The 100% Great Lakes Fish initiative, a three-year-old effort led by the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers (GSGP), has been awarded the Blue Transformation Leader Award by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The recognition highlights the initiative’s innovative approach to promoting full fish use and sustainable blue economy practices across the Great Lakes region.
“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 maximising the value of our region’s fish resources.”
GSGP program manager John Schmidt accepted the award in Rome on 15 October at FAO headquarters during the FAO’s 80th anniversary and the 2025 World Food Forum.
The 100% Great Lakes Fish initiative encourages commercial fish processors and aquaculture producers to fully use every part of the fish they handle. Through its pledge, it has recruited 44 companies representing roughly 90% of all commercially caught Great Lakes fish.
Typically, only 40% of each fish is consumed as fillets, while the remaining 60% is often discarded or underused. The initiative draws inspiration from Iceland’s model, where full use of fish has boosted product value dramatically from US$12 for fillets to up to US$5,000 including value-added goods like cosmetics and medical supplies.
