Contributors
Lauren N. Stigers
John Brawley
Amy Shambach
Kwamena Quagrainie
Barry Udelson
Sharon Moen
Titus Seilheimer
Julianne M. Farley
Amy J. Schrank
Abstract
The Great Lakes region contains more than 20% of the world’s surface freshwater and supports a culturally, economically, and ecologically significant seafood sector. Yet the dual identity of fisheries—as both food and a managed natural resource—creates a complex landscape for understanding how seafood moves from water to consumer. This study represents one of the first coordinated efforts to map the United States’ Great Lakes seafood value and supply chains. Using state agency data requests, informal interviews, and a nine-state online survey conducted in 2024, we identified aquaculture farms, commercial fishers, and seafood processors, documented regulatory authorities and their disparities, and examined market dynamics and access to locally sourced seafood. Four key findings illustrate the intricacy of the U.S. Great Lakes seafood food system. First, seafood-related data are limited, inconsistently collected, and not comparable across jurisdictions. Second, the seafood supply chain management is exceptionally complex, shaped by fragmented regulatory authorities and species-specific production systems. Third, processors outnumber producers nearly two to one, raising questions about supply origins and reliance on imported seafood. Fourth, regulatory restrictions, product availability, and distribution costs may be the biggest barriers for accessing locally produced seafood. We suggest that these findings demonstrate that Great Lakes fish play five primary roles—food, finances, fun, function, and fellowship – which shape the structure, governance, and performance of the Great Lakes seafood system. Strengthening this system offers opportunities to enhance food security, support local economies, and sustain the cultural heritage tied to Great Lakes fish culture in all of its forms.