GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- A new initiative called "100% Great Lakes Fish" is seeking new ways to use whole fish to reduce waste and support rural economic development in the process.
Grand Rapids-area fish retailer Big O' Smokehouse and Michigan startup Great Lakes Tinned Fish have become the latest companies to sign the “100% Great Lakes Fish Pledge,” publicly committing to use 100% of each fish it uses by 2025.
Here are more details provided in a news release from Clark Communications:
Great Lakes Tinned Fish, founded by entrepreneur Marissa Fellows, recently won $20,000 from a statewide entrepreneur competition for her venture. The company intends to launch its products in stores and online this fall. Big O’ Smokehouse is a family business that has operated in Caledonia, Michigan, since 1997.
As part of the pledge, both companies will communicate to other companies in the fish supply chain about opportunities for innovative applications for fish byproducts, including compost, fertilizer, protein, marine collagen, leather, or other new, high-value products.
Thirty-two companies across North America have signed the pledge. It is part of the 100% Great Lakes Fish initiative created by the Conference of Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors & Premiers (GSGP), an organization representing the Governors of the Great Lakes States and the Canadian Premiers of Ontario and Québec.
"Working with local fish businesses across the Great Lakes region has been one of the most exciting aspects of this initiative,“ said David Naftzger, Executive Director of GSGP. “Great Lakes Tinned Fish’s mission is to support sustainable fishing practices in Michigan, so we couldn’t ask for a more allied partner to join the 100% Great Lakes Fish Pledge. The 100% Great Lakes Fish Pledge helps us unlock new opportunities for innovation, sustainability, and economic growth, and we’re thrilled to have Big O’ Smokehouse join the effort to create new value from the region’s fishery."
The Great Lakes are home to sizable commercial fisheries, but only the fillets of these fish are usually eaten. In contrast, the remaining 60% of the fish is often relegated to inexpensive uses or discarded. The 100% Great Lakes Fish initiative seeks new and innovative ways to use whole fish to reduce waste, create more value and jobs, and support rural economic development. Iceland pioneered this approach and has seen the value of products made from each cod skyrocket from $12 for just the filet to a remarkable $5,000 for products including cosmetics, medical bandages, nutritional supplements, and a range of other products.
“Supporting sustainable fishing practices that allow us all to enjoy the bounty of our Great Lakes for generations to come is at the heart of what Great Lakes Tinned Fish is all about,” said Marissa Fellows, Founder of Great Lakes Tinned Fish. “Our business was built through innovation - challenging what has never been done and believing in what's possible - and we know that great progress happens in environments where collaboration is actively cultivated. The 100% Fish Pledge is laying this foundation, and we're honored to be part of it.”
"My grandfather founded Big O’ Smokehouse nearly three decades ago with a focus on quality and tradition, but we've always looked for ways to innovate,” said Bruce Osterhaven, President of Big O’ Smokehouse. “The 100% Great Lakes Fish Pledge aligns perfectly with our commitment to sustainability and craftsmanship, and we’re excited to explore new opportunities to share the unmatched quality of our region's fish with a wider audience."
More information on 100% Great Lakes Fish, including a copy of the Pledge, is available at https://gsgp.org/projects/100-great-lakes-fish/.
The 32 companies participating in the 100% Great Lakes Fish Pledge include:
A&A Marine Foods – Tilbury, Ontario
Great Lakes Tinned Fish – Grand Rapids, Michigan
Acme Smoked Fish – Brooklyn, New York
Halvorson Fisheries – Cornucopia, Wisconsin
All Temp Foods – Leamington, Ontario
Big O’ Smokehouse – Caledonia, Michigan
Henriksen Fisheries -- Ellison Bay, Wisconsin
Big Stone Bay Fishery – Mackinaw City, Michigan
J&M Fisheries -- Ellison Bay, Wisconsin
Bodin Fisheries – Bayfield, Wisconsin
John O’s Foods – Wheatley, Ontario
Baileys Harbor Fish Co. – Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin
Lindal Fisheries – Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
Cambrian Co-Products – Minneapolis, Minnesota
Motor City Seafood – Highland Park, Michigan
Carlson’s Fishery - Leland, Michigan
Presteve Foods – Wheatley, Ontario
Dan’s Fish, Inc. – Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
Purvis Fisheries – Silver Water, Ontario
Dramm Corporation – Manitowoc, Wisconsin
Red Cliff Fish Co. – Bayfield, Wisconsin
Euclid Fish Company – Mentor, Ohio
Rushing Waters Fisheries – Palmyra, Wisconsin
First Catch LLC - Baraga, Michigan
Superior Fresh, Northfield, Wisconsin
Fiskur Leather – Mora, Minnesota
Taylor Fish Co. – Wheatley, Ontario
Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation – Winnipeg, Manitoba
Treaty Fish Co. – Suttons Bay, Michigan
Fortune Fish & Gourmet – Bensenville, Illinois
VanLandschoot & Sons Fish Market – Munising, Michigan
Great Lakes Food Co. – Chatham, Ontario
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