Carrying the Momentum Forward: An Update on Oregon’s 100% Fish Initiative
Earlier this summer, we shared the exciting news about the Oregon delegation—spanning processing, commercial fishing, academia, and coastal ports—that traveled to Iceland’s Innovation Week to study their world-leading 100% Fish utilization model.
The delegation was led by Oregon State University (OSU), and brought together 18 coastal leaders, scientists, and industry pioneers to Reykjavik for a mission centered on a single, transformative idea: 100% Fish.
On June 2, 2026, the group reconvened for a debrief meeting to synthesize their insights and construct a practical roadmap for Oregon's "blue economy."
The overarching takeaway was clear: while Iceland’s highly centralized, corporate industry structure differs from our distributed coastline, Oregon possesses an incredible, unique advantage in rich species diversity and day-boat freshness. To ensure long-term resiliency and equity, a successful model would be built from the ground up as a distributed network, intentionally centering independent owner-operators alongside major processors to turn raw waste streams into high-value bioproducts.
Moving forward, OSU, the Oregon Ocean Cluster, and our network of partners are transitioning from inspiration to concrete execution.
Over the next 18 months, priority work areas will focus on comprehensive coast-wide resource mapping, launching low-risk collaborative pilots, and engaging regulatory agencies like the DEQ and the state's Blue Economy Task Force. Oregon State University is also uniquely positioned to serve as our regional research backbone, acting as Oregon's equivalent to Iceland's famed innovation engine, Matís.
Another clear goal in the coming months is to identify a flagship "gold star story": the single highest-volume, highest-value byproduct opportunity (ranging from marine collagen and fish leather to specialized organic fertilizers) that could anchor investor buy-in.
Stay tuned as the work continues! If you or your organization would like to learn more about the workstreams coming out of this delegation, contact Angee Hunt.
