Lobsters fetch a pretty price for their tasty meat, but researchers say their shells could also help meet future human health needs.

A study from Flinders University has found a new way to extract proteins and minerals, including calcium, from the shells of lobsters, which allows them to be used in everyday products. 

Lobster shells are already processed to extract chitin, a naturally occurring polymer.

But the extraction process uses harsh chemicals that don't allow other products to be extracted. 

Professor of aquaculture Jian Qin said his team had built a "microwave-intensified biorefinery" that can draw out other materials rich in calcium for human consumption. 

He said the calcium extracted was similar to that found in commercial supplements, and the technology could give a second life to the industry's waste. 

"You can see in Australia that aquaculture production is getting more and more important, however there are some by-products that are just in waste," he said. 

"Lobster is quite expensive and very delicious … we're going to produce a lot of lobster shells, but we've found shells produce a lot of good products."

Profession Qin said processors and restaurants keeping their lobster shells to be made into calcium products would reduce waste and add an extra revenue source. 

"A lot of people have calcium deficiency and a lot of people as they get older need to have a calcium supplement," he said. 

"However we need to make sure the calcium we're consuming is biologically available so it can be absorbed to help development. 

The next stage for the research is to undertake clinical trials on the calcium extracted from lobster shells. 

Process could reduce landfill 

Australia's southern rock lobster industry is worth $250 million to the economy and is concentrated around the southern waters off South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania. 

South Australian processor Andrew Ferguson said his business cooked the whole lobster with the shell on to add extra seasoning and flavouring to the meat.

"Once you've done that process though you've still got the calcium rich shell to utilise in other products," he said. 

"I think it's quite exciting to look at these opportunities because there are some characteristics in the shell that are useful for the medical industry. 

Mr Ferguson said the industry would always welcome more ways to make money on every part of their catch. 

"Collectively, across a broad range of industries it may have the scale to get benefits," he said. 

"On our own we probably don't have the scale to produce enough, but it's certainly worth looking at."