Anna Veilleux | An Evaluation of Fish Oil as a Low Environmental Impact Alternative Paint Binder System: A Review Of North American Fish Oil Production and Use

Anna Veilleux (MSHP '25) won the Anthony Nicholas Brady Garvan Award for an Outstanding Thesis/Capstone. 

Abstract: 

This thesis will explore the feasibility of reintroducing Atlantic Cod-liver (Gadus morhua) and Menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) oil as a low-environment-impact alternative to conventional polymer-based paint binders. The architectural paint formulations commonly used in North America heavily depend on petroleum-based compounds and organic solvents that are non-biodegradable, contribute significantly to pollution, and contain substances detrimental to the health of humans and wildlife. A compelling alternative to this system emerges through an examination of the history of fish oil, tracing its origins from Indigenous precontact practices to a primary ingredient in the height of industrial scale 20th-century production. The research is structured around three themes: the physical properties of fish oil and its performance as a material preservative, the environmental impact of fish oil compared to other paint binders, and its cultural significance in heritage contexts. Collecting scientific literature and oral histories illuminates fish oil as a durable, water-resistant, and rust-inhibiting coating. Environmental studies indicate that fish oil can be sourced from fish byproducts, minimizing ecological impact and avoiding additional harm to fish populations. Cultural case studies focusing on Newfoundland, Canada, elucidates the historical and cultural value of fish-oil production and usage as an endangered intangible cultural heritage that warrants retention through scientific study. Through this investigation, it was illustrated that fish oil has shaped the built environment, material culture, community identity, and memory. This work offers an assessment of fish oil’s potential to serve as a more sustainable, physically effective, and culturally valuable alternative to conventional paint binders in heritage conservation.

Download Anna Veilleux's thesis, "An Evaluation of Fish Oil as a Low Environmental Impact Alternative Paint Binder System: A Review Of North American Fish Oil Production and Use."
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