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In: 100% Great Lakes Fish, Eat Wisconsin Fish, Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers, John Schmidt, Sharon Moen

Fish are often enjoyed as fillets, but could they also become a beverage, a belt, or a spot of sparkly makeup?

Graphic for 100% Wisconsin Fish contest that displays a whitefish and encourages folks to "Think beyond the fillet"

Eat Wisconsin Fish and the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors & Premiers (GSGP) are fishing for your ideas on how to creatively use all parts of commercially caught Great Lakes fish. Now through October 24, 2025, you can submit your ideas to the 100% Wisconsin Fish contest for a chance to win a Great Lakes prize pack.

“We’re looking for bold, innovative ideas that go beyond the traditional uses of fish,” said Sharon Moen, Wisconsin Sea Grant’s food-fish outreach coordinator who is helping run the contest. “Typically, only 40% of the fish is used, and that’s the fillet. Finding ways to use the remaining 60% will help us reduce waste and create new economic opportunities in Wisconsin.” 

The contest is part of GSGP’s 100% Great Lakes Fish initiative, which seeks to find commercial uses for all parts of harvested fish across the entire Great Lakes region. The initiative is modeled after Iceland’s successful effort to find more uses for harvested cod. According to GSGP, Iceland has now developed commercial uses for 90% of the cod, and its value has risen from $12 to $4,000.

“We see huge potential for Wisconsin and the region to unlock new industries, create jobs, and ensure that the full value of these fish supports our region’s communities,” said John Schmidt, GSGP program manager. “We applaud Wisconsin Sea Grant’s creative approach to gathering new ideas with the Eat Wisconsin Fish contest. We are eager to see what comes of this!”

The contest is open to all Wisconsin residents, but participants under the age of 18 will require parental/guardian consent. Contestants will need to write a short description of their product and explain its benefit to the Great Lakes and Wisconsin’s coastal communities. A team of judges will then convene in late October to evaluate ideas on usefulness, feasibility, creativity, and regional importance.

“We’re really looking forward to seeing how people think beyond the fillet,” said Moen.

Submit your ideas to the contest.   

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The University of Wisconsin Aquatic Sciences Center administers Wisconsin Sea Grant, the Wisconsin Water Resources Institute, and Water@UW. The center supports multidisciplinary research, education, and outreach for the protection and sustainable use of Wisconsin’s water resources. Wisconsin Sea Grant is one of 34 Sea Grant programs supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in coastal and Great Lakes states that encourage the wise stewardship of marine resources through research, education, outreach, and technology transfer.

The post Submit your ideas to the 100% Wisconsin Fish contest first appeared on Wisconsin Sea Grant.

Original Article

News Releases | Wisconsin Sea Grant

News Releases | Wisconsin Sea Grant

https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/news/submit-your-ideas-to-the-100-wisconsin-fish-contest/

Jenna Mertz