FAO honors Great Lakes initiative valorizing fish waste

FAO honors the 100% Great Lakes Fish initiative for reducing food waste and creating value from the whole catch

The 100% Great Lakes Fish initiative, led by the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers (GSGP), has received the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) Blue Transformation Leader Award for Sustainable Aquatic Food Systems.

At the 2025 World Food Forum, the initiative was honored for its collaborative work to make full use of whole Great Lakes fish and advance sustainable growth across the region’s blue economy.

The Great Lakes region supports substantial commercial, recreational and Tribal fisheries, along with expanding aquaculture operations. Yet only about 40 percent of each fish – mainly the fillets – is typically consumed, while the remaining 60 percent is often discarded or used for low-value products.

Now in its third year, the 100% Great Lakes Fish initiative is working to change that by finding new uses for the whole fish – creating jobs, reducing waste and supporting rural communities. The model draws inspiration from Iceland, where using every part of the cod has raised its value from about $12 for fillets to as much as $5,000 for products such as cosmetics, medical supplies and nutritional supplements.

For Great Lakes aquaculture, it’s a tale of two countries

As part of the initiative, the GSGP launched the 100% Great Lakes Fish Pledge – a commitment by commercial fish processors, aquaculture producers and related companies to fully utilize every fish they process, raise or handle by the end of this year. So far, 44 fish processors and aquaculture farms from seven states and two Canadian provinces have signed on, representing about 90 percent of all commercially caught Great Lakes fish.

“On behalf of the 100% Fish Pledge Initiative, we thank the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization for this prestigious recognition,” said David Naftzger, Executive Director of GSGP. “For a nascent initiative to receive this type of recognition is very encouraging for us as it indicates we are on the right path toward reducing waste while maximizing the value of our region’s fish resources.”

Click here for more information on 100% Great Lakes Fish, including a copy of the pledge.

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