First-ever Mi Fresh Fish Expo makes a splash on Michigan’s capitol lawn

Michigan Sea Grant, MIchigan State University Extension -

More than 500 Michiganders spent day celebrating, learning about state’s aquaculture and commercial fishing industries.

A picture the north side of the Capitol lawn looking toward the front of the Capitol. A large white tent is in the foreground of the building. The Fish Expo displays were located under the tent.
Attendees at the Mi Fresh Fish Expo in Lansing met with commercial fishermen and aquaculture farmers to discover where Michigan fish come from, how they are cared for and harvested, and why they’re an important part of the local economy.

On June 13, 2023, Michiganders spent a day celebrating and learning about Michigan’s commercial fishing and aquaculture industries in front of the state capitol in Lansing. The Expo was hosted by the Michigan Fish Producers Association and Michigan Aquaculture Association, with coordination and organizational support from Michigan State University Extension, Michigan Sea Grant and Monte Consulting through the Mi Fresh Fish marketing campaign.. 

The event was an opportunity to meet with commercial fishermen and aquaculture farmers to showcase their products grown and harvested in Michigan waters. Attendees discovered where Michigan fish come from, how they are cared for and harvested, and why they’re an important part of the local economy. Producers hoped the Expo would help create advocates for Michigan fish among Michiganders as they shared their stories.

See, eat, learn

More than 500 participants engaged with 18 vendors, 24 businesses, nine producers, sampled any of three Mi

55002989336243_9051107d28_c.jpg
An aquaculture aquarium helped people understand how the aquaculture industry works in Michigan.

Fresh Fish species from cooking demonstrations and interacted with two interactive demos. The interactive demos included an aquaculture live tank holding live trout for stocking raised at Cedarbrook Trout Farms and a 360-Virtual Reality experience that transports viewers on a virtual tour of Cedarbrook Trout Farms. After attending, 173 participants (90% of those who took the Michigan Sea Grant evaluation survey) said yes, they plan to eat more fish.

Both aquaculture and commercial fishing industries held cooking demonstrations where all of the fish were harvested and processed the day before. Michigan Fish Producers Association showcased Big Stone Bay Fishery’s lake whitefish and yellow perch prepared by The Farm Restaurant as Pan-seared blackened Great Lakes whitefish and Deep-fried yellow perch and whitefish. Michigan Aquaculture Association showcased Harrietta Hills Trout Farm’s rainbow trout prepared by SolidFuel as O’Mykiss rainbow one-cider sandwich.

The Expo redefined what it meant for producers to be able to talk about and educate others on who their industries are and what they do. In addition, they are shifting the conversation to not only talk about fish as a natural resource (stocking, recreational fishing, charter fishing, population management), but to also talk about fish as food (food security, local and regional economies, equitable access, diversity, healthy, sustainability, resiliency, customs and traditions). The Mi Fresh Fish Expo brought together aquaculture and commercial fishing producers in Michigan – their first collaboration – under one tent to bring awareness that they offer Michigan-made fish, or Mi Fresh Fish, for all people in Michigan and request that state residents to support them.

Mi Fresh Fish campaign continues

The Mi Fresh Fish Expo is part of a marketing campaign to highlight the small and mighty industries bringing fish to the people of Michigan. The campaign is focused on consumer education surrounding the benefits of eating Michigan fish, the importance of buying local products to support local economies, and the high quality of standards and care in the quality of fish they produce. Mi Fresh Fish is an educational marketing campaign to bring awareness to commercial fishing and aquaculture, also known as fish farming, in Michigan. It’s about celebrating what they offer and supporting local, healthy, tasty, delicious fish.

“I’m going to be thinking about that fish all week,” remarked one participant. The Expo may be over, but the Mi Fresh Fish campaign continues encouraging consumers to choose local sources of fish for food, bait, stocking, ornamental uses, and more. 

Michigan Sea Grant helps to foster economic growth and protect Michigan’s coastal, Great Lakes resources through education, research, and outreach. A collaborative effort of the University of Michigan and Michigan State University and its MSU Extension, Michigan Sea Grant is part of the NOAA-National Sea Grant network of 34 university-based programs.

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