Hudson Valley Fisheries Joins 100% Great Lakes Fish Pledge
Hudson Valley Fisheries, the nation’s largest land-based trout recirculating aquaculture company, has signed the “100% Great Lakes Fish Pledge,” publicly committing to use 100% of each fish it raises by the end of 2025. Hudson Valley becomes the 35th company to sign the pledge.
In less than two years, the initiative has attracted 5 aquaculture producers and 30 commercial fish processors or partner companies – representing nearly 90% of all commercial fish production from the Great Lakes – from 7 States and 2 Canadian Provinces.
As part of the pledge, Hudson Valley Fisheries will help 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.
The pledge 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.
“Hudson Valley Fisheries is a pioneer in sustainable aquaculture, so we are excited to have them join our effort,“ said David Naftzger, Executive Director of GSGP. “In less than two years, we have attracted interest from a number of companies from our region’s growing aquaculture sector, and companies representing nearly 90% of all commercial fish production across the Great Lakes. We are eager to foster this collaboration and implement innovative applications for fish byproducts.”
The Great Lakes region is home to sizable commercial fisheries and growing aquaculture operations, 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 each 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.
Hudson Valley Fisheries is the nation’s largest land-based trout recirculating aquaculture company and is well-known for its sustainable fishery operations. The land-based system means the operation does not impact wild fish populations or the marine ecosystem. The company’s facilities re-use 95% of their water and upcycles wastewater into fertilizer.
“Hudson Valley Fisheries is proud to join the 100% Great Lakes Fish Pledge and do its part to prevent waste and promote the sustainable use of our steelhead trout," said John Ng, CEO of Hudson Valley Fisheries. "Being good environmental stewards and RAS farmers, we have long been committed to doing what is best for our fish, our customers and the planet."
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 35 companies participating in the 100% Great Lakes Fish Pledge include:
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A&A Marine Foods – Tilbury, Ontario |
Great Lakes Tinned Fish – Grand Rapids, Michigan |
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Acme Smoked Fish – Brooklyn, New York |
Halvorson Fisheries – Cornucopia, Wisconsin |
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All Temp Foods – Leamington, Ontario |
Henriksen Fisheries - Ellison Bay, Wisconsin |
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Big O’ Smokehouse – Caledonia, Michigan |
Hudson Valley Fisheries – Hudson, New York |
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Big Stone Bay Fishery – Mackinaw City, Michigan |
J&M Fisheries - Ellison Bay, Wisconsin |
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Bodin Fisheries – Bayfield, Wisconsin |
John O’s Foods – Wheatley, Ontario |
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Baileys Harbor Fish Co. – Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin |
Lindal Fisheries – Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin |
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Cambrian Co-Products – Minneapolis, Minnesota |
Motor City Seafood – Highland Park, Michigan |
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Carlson’s Fishery - Leland, Michigan |
Presteve Foods – Wheatley, Ontario |
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Cole-Munro Foods – St. Thomas, Ontario |
Purvis Fisheries – Silver Water, Ontario |
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Dan’s Fish, Inc. – Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin |
Red Cliff Fish Co. – Bayfield, Wisconsin |
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Dramm Corporation – Manitowoc, Wisconsin |
Rushing Waters Fisheries – Palmyra, Wisconsin |
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Euclid Fish Company – Mentor, Ohio |
Springhills Fish – Hanover, Ontario |
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First Catch LLC - Baraga, Michigan |
Superior Fresh – Northland, Wisconsin |
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Fiskur Leather – Mora, Minnesota |
Taylor Fish Co. – Wheatley, Ontario |
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Freshwater Fish Marketing Corp. – Winnipeg, Manitoba |
Treaty Fish Co. – Suttons Bay, Michigan |
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Fortune Fish & Gourmet – Bensenville, Illinois |
VanLandschoot & Sons Fish Market – Munising, Michigan |
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Great Lakes Food Co. – Chatham, Ontario |
About the Conference of Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors & Premiers
The Conference of Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors & Premiers unites the chief executives from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Ontario, Pennsylvania, Québec and Wisconsin. The Governors and Premiers work as equal partners to grow the region’s $8 trillion economy and protect the world’s largest surface freshwater system.
