Celebrating Michigan Fish Producers with a Bounty of Local Seafood

LAUREN N. JESCOVITCH, PhD Extension Educator - Fisheries & Aquaculture

GENEVA LANGELAND, Communications Editor, Michigan Sea Grant

Michigan is surrounded by incredible freshwater lakes — and a bounty of local seafood! Seafood describes any fish or marine life that serves as food, so that includes freshwater proteins.

Michigan seafood can be produced through either aquaculture (farm-raised) or commercial fishing (wild-caught). Both of these industries are present in Michigan and provide a way for those who love to cook and eat seafood to celebrate Michigan’s fish producers. Fisheries are a vital part of Michigan’s heritage and an important cultural touchpoint for coastal communities.

Did you know?

Global seafood production is about 50% wild-caught and 50% farm-raised.

Approximately 80% of U.S. seafood is imported.

AQUACULTURE

Aquaculture is the farming of fish and other aquatic life in a controlled environment. Michigan is home to both public (also known as hatcheries) and private operations that produce kitchen favorites like shrimp and trout, as well as bait fish, ornamental fish, stocking fish, and fee-fishing operations.

COMMERCIAL FISHING

Commercial fishing is the harvesting of wildcaught fish from their natural environment in large volumes to meet consumer demand. Michigan’s beloved lake whitefish represents 95% of the state’s commercial harvest sales.

FIND FISH

Support Michigan’s fishing economy and find a local seafood producer or supplier near you! Built by Michigan Sea Grant and sister programs around the Great Lakes, the Great Lakes Fresh Fish Finder website (see below) makes it a snap to connect with producers of Michigan seafood. The online map shows where consumers can find and support local fish-producing businesses that produce seafood, bait fish, stocked fish, ornamentals, or fee-fishing anywhere in the Great Lakes region.

Dive into these resources to learn more about the region’s seafood producers and their industries:

EXPLORE THE GREAT LAKES FISHERIES HERITAGE TRAIL greatlakesfisheriestrail.org

UNDERSTAND AQUACULTURE IN MICHIGAN AND THE REGION greatlakesseagrant. com/aquaculture/

LEARN MORE ABOUT COMMERCIAL FISHING mfpa.us

FIND LOCAL FRESHWATER FISH TO PURCHASE freshfishfinder.org

RECIPE INSPIRATION freshwaterfeasts.com

Michigan Sea Grant is a non-profit organization that helps to foster economic growth and habitat protection in coastal communitiesmichiganseagrant.org