In January 2026, the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors & Premiers (GSGP) announced that the region has effectively ended the practice of landfilling fish waste (heads, guts, skin, and scales) generated by the commercial fish industry.
The Governors’ and Premiers’ 100% Great Lakes Fish Pledge has been signed by 44 companies which commits them to productively using all parts of the fish they handle.
Together, these companies account for over 30 million pounds of fish annually, which is about 90% of the Great Lakes commercial catch by volume.
The Great Lakes are home to sizeable commercial fisheries and growing aquaculture and fish processing sectors, yet in most cases only the fillets are eaten while the remaining material is often discarded or relegated to low value uses.
Through the Pledge, the region is approaching 100% utilization of each fish caught, raised, or processed in the region. And, GSGP’s 100% fish initiative is helping to increase the value of these materials by identifying new, higher value uses such as fish leather, meal and oil, and others.
According to GSGP, the project is intended to increase revenue, create new jobs, and support rural economic development while reducing emissions and improving the resilience of Great Lakes fisheries.
In 2026, GSGP will continue to invite companies to join the Pledge, working toward 100% participation. Work will also grow with aquaculture companies and fish cleaning stations in the region. Incorporating fish cleaning stations will create new opportunities to build local collection, handling, and processing pathways that convert “waste” into inputs for new products and markets.
source: Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors & Premiers