Wisconsin’s First Land-Based Walleye Farm Joins International Effort That Seeks to Use 100% of Each Fish
Aqua Garden LLC is the 38th company to join the 100% Great Lakes Fish Pledge which aims to prevent waste and promote the sustainable use of fish
(RICE LAKE, WI)--Aqua Garden LLC, a Wisconsin land-based walleye farm that integrates aquaponic and aeroponic technology, has signed the “100% Great Lakes Fish Pledge,” publicly committing to using 100% of each fish it raises by the end of 2025. Aqua Garden is the 38th company—and 12th from Wisconsin—to sign the pledge.
In less than two years, the initiative has recruited seven aquaculture companies and commercial fish companies representing nearly 90% of all commercially caught fish from the Great Lakes—from seven States and two Canadian Provinces.
As part of the pledge, Aqua Garden LLC, already well-known for its sustainable walleye production, 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.
“We are thrilled to welcome Aqua Garden to the 100% Great Lakes Fish Pledge,” said David Naftzger, Executive Director of GSGP. “Their unique approach to aquaculture, combining land-based walleye farming with sustainable agricultural practices, represents exactly the kind of forward-thinking solutions that will help maximize the value of our region’s fish resources.”
The Great Lakes region is home to growing aquaculture operations and sizeable commercial fisheries, but only about 40% of each fish (the fillets) 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 fully 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.
Aqua Garden, headquartered in Amery, Wisconsin, raises walleye in a controlled, land-based environment using advanced filtration and water recycling technology. The company also grows herbs using aeroponic towers, ensuring efficient use of space and water resources.
“We believe in sustainability at every level of our operation, from fish farming to herb cultivation,” said Colin Bursik, Co-Founder of Aqua Garden. “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.”
More information on 100% Great Lakes Fish, including a copy of the Pledge, is available at htps://gsgp.org/projects/100-great-lakes-fish/.
The 38 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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Aqua Garden LLC – Amery, Wisconsin |
Hudson Valley Fisheries – Hudson, New York |
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Big O’ Smokehouse – Caledonia, Michigan |
J&M Fisheries - Ellison Bay, Wisconsin |
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Big Stone Bay Fishery – Mackinaw City, Michigan |
John O’s Foods – Wheatley, Ontario |
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Bodin Fisheries – Bayfield, Wisconsin |
Lindal Fisheries – Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin |
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Baileys Harbor Fish Co. – Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin |
Motor City Seafood – Highland Park, Michigan |
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Cambrian Co-Products – Minneapolis, Minnesota |
Presteve Foods – Wheatley, Ontario |
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Carlson’s Fishery - Leland, Michigan |
Purvis Fisheries – Silver Water, Ontario |
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Cole-Munro Foods – St. Thomas, Ontario |
Red Cliff Fish Co. – Bayfield, Wisconsin |
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Dan’s Fish, Inc. – Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin |
Rushing Waters Fisheries – Palmyra, Wisconsin |
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Dramm Corporation – Manitowoc, Wisconsin |
Skytop Springs Fish Farm - Sydney, New York |
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Euclid Fish Company – Mentor, Ohio |
Springhills Fish – Hanover, Ontario |
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First Catch LLC - Baraga, Michigan |
Steelhead Food Co. - St. Thomas, Ontario |
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Fiskur Leather – Mora, Minnesota |
Superior Fresh – Northland, Wisconsin |
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Freshwater Fish Marketing Corp. – Winnipeg, Manitoba |
Taylor Fish Co. – Wheatley, Ontario |
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Fortune Fish & Gourmet – Bensenville, Illinois |
Treaty Fish Co. – Suttons Bay, Michigan |
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Great Lakes Food Co. – Chatham, Ontario |
VanLandschoot & Sons Fish Market – Munising, Michigan |
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.
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