Rice Lake, Wisconsin, U.S.A.-based walleye-farming and aquaponics firm Aqua Garden has signed the “100% Great Lakes Fish Pledge,” a commitment by fish farmers and processors to sell all parts of their fish in an effort to reduce byproduct waste.
The initiative, launched by the Conference of Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors & Premiers (GSGP), an organization representing Canadian premiers of Ontario and Quebec as well as governors from U.S. states bordering the Great Lakes, encourages aquaculture and commercial fish companies to find new uses for traditionally wasted parts of fish and to open dialogue with member companies about innovative byproduct strategies and selling opportunities.
The initiative is modeled off a similar 100% Fish program launched by the Iceland Ocean Cluster.
Aqua Garden, one of few firms raising walleye in the U.S. and the first land-based walleye aquaculture operation in the state of Wisconsin, is now the 38th company to sign the pledge across seven U.S. states and the two aforementioned Canadian provinces.
The firm raises walleye indoors in two 1,000-gallon tanks, and the waste produced by the fish is filtered and turned into nitrates that are used to grow basil, mint, dill, chives, and other products.
“We believe in sustainability at every level of our operation, from fish farming to herb cultivation,” Aqua Garden Co-Founder Colin Bursik said in a GSGP press release. “Joining the 100% Great Lakes Fish Pledge is a natural extension of our commitment to responsible food production and environmental stewardship. We are excited to collaborate with other members of the pledge to find creative solutions for using 100% of our fish.”
Each year, roughly 35 million pounds of fish are commercially harvested in the Great Lakes region, mainly walleye, yellow perch, lake trout, and lake whitefish. Yet, when analyzing “species markets and utilization,” around just 17.9 million pounds of the catch garners any substantial economic return, according to a report by TriNac Fisheries Consultants Inc.
“Using the entire fish, from head to tail, presents a tremendous opportunity for the Great Lakes region, leading to significant economic returns, job creation, rural economic development, and improved sustainability for the fisheries and associated businesses,” GSGP said in its corporate pledge.
According to Aqua Garden, specific traits of walleye make it a difficult fish to farm, but increased revenue from processing fish byproducts could also reduce economic pressure on new farmers.
