100% Great Lakes Fish Initiative

Episode 16, 5/30/24

100% Great Lakes Fish Initiative

In this episode we discuss the 100% Great Lakes Fish Initiative, which is a campaign aimed at commercial fishers to better use all parts of the fish they catch. Sharon and Marie speak with campaign leaders David Naftzger and John Schmidt with the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers organization. Then Sharon and Marie travel to Bayfield in search of whitefish livers – a part of the fish many people don’t realize you can eat. Joining us for our whitefish liver feast at the Pier Plaza Restaurant in Bayfield is Emma Hauser, Wisconsin Sea Grant’s aquaculture outreach and education specialist. She discusses a way to feed baby fish, which would also entail using more parts of Great Lakes fish. A bonus topic at the end includes lake trout fish cheeks!

Lake whitefish livers prepared by the Pier Plaza Restaurant. Image credit: Marie Zhuikov, Wisconsin Sea Grant

Packaged and frozen lake whitefish livers and lake trout cheeks by Halvorson Fisheries. They might not look appetizing this way, but don’t let that fool you! Image credit: Sharon Moen, Wisconsin Sea Grant.

Emma Hauser with lake whitefish livers. Image credit: Sharon Moen, Wisconsin Sea Grant

David Naftzger. Image courtesy of the GSGP

John Schmidt. Image courtesy of the GSGP

Thanks to our guests

David Naftzger, Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers
John Schmidt, Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers
Our waitress at the Pier Plaza Restaurant. Sorry we didn’t get your name!
Emma Hauser, Northern Aquaculture Demonstration Facility

Credits

Marie Zhuikov | Host

Senior Science Communicator

What I do at Sea Grant

Marie writes about Great Lakes water issues, Sea Grant activities and research. She also works on podcasts, oversees the Wisconsin Sea Grant blog, and takes photos. She works in collaboration with program scientists, outreach specialists and institute staff to build water science literacy. Prior to joining Wisconsin Sea Grant in 2012, Marie worked for Minnesota Sea Grant for 15 years.

Sharon Moen | Host

Food-Fish Outreach Coordinator

What I do at Sea Grant

Sharon Moen provides information, trainings and opportunities so that people can make science-based decisions when producing, procuring, marketing or eating fish, especially in Wisconsin. She works with commercial fishers, food-fish producers and fish consumers so that Wisconsin can better support sustainable fisheries industries and improve human health. Prior to joining Wisconsin Sea Grant to focus on the Eat Wisconsin Fish initiative, Moen worked for Minnesota Sea Grant for over 20 years.