100% FISH:
Honoring the Whole Catch
At Local Ocean, we believe that great seafood should nourish more than just appetites—it should support local communities, minimize waste, and elevate the value of every fish caught.
Our 100% Fish Program is our commitment to utilizing every bit of seafood we purchase, transforming bones, skins, collars, and scraps into something meaningful—delicious foods, functional products, and a more sustainable future.
Why 100% Fish?
Each year, Local Ocean processes nearly 100,000 lbs of whole fish. On average, about 50% of that weight is cut into fillets, leaving around 50,000 lbs of high-quality, nutrient-dense seafood byproduct that’s previously been wasted. Instead of sending up to three box trucks full of fish carcasses to the dump every year, we believe we can transform this ocean resource into something better.
Local Ocean was an early adopter in the Oregon Ocean Cluster—a project of the Oregon Coast Visitors Association and the Iceland Ocean Cluster—created to advance seafood innovation, circular economy strategies, and resilient coastal economies.
This isn’t just about waste—it’s about working smarter, honoring the fisheries that feed us, and unlocking new economic potential for our region.
The Facts about Fish
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90% of the seafood eaten on the Oregon Coast is imported, while a 1/3 of our local catch is exported to bidders in Asia, Europe, and Africa—promoting consumption of real local seafood would dramatically add value to our economy. [Source: Oregon Coast Visitors Association]
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The Oregon Coast sees $840 million in food tourism spending annually, but very little of that is spent on truly local seafood.
[Source: Oregon Coast Visitors Association] -
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Newport generates more seafood landings by value than any other coastal port in Oregon. This town is built on fish—let’s build more value from every one.
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Oregon is home to some of the best managed certified sustainable fisheries in the world – We can create more value for these species without excessive harvesting or destroying ecosystems.
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Over 60% of seafood waste generally happens during at-sea production and land-based processing. We can change that.
[Source: FAO, 2021 Global Fishery Report] -
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15% of the total volume in Oregon’s landfills comes from food waste – we don’t have to throw our food resources away.
If Local Ocean upcycled every scrap of all the fish we buy every year, that would represent 0.002% of all the seafood landed in Newport. Imagine what would happen if the rest of our community followed suit. We want to make it possible for others to join in!
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The 100% Fish Program keeps ocean-wealth and nutrition circulating within our coastal economy. By transforming seafood byproduct into value-added goods for people, pets, and plants, we’re creating:
New job opportunities and skilled positions year-round.
Market-ready products for Local Ocean’s fish market, online store, and regional retailers.
Economic resilience in the face of seasonal cycles and environmental change.
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Dockside Direct Purchasing from Fishermen we know and trust: Local Ocean buys whole fish directly from 50+ Oregon vessels. We have relationships with boats that go back generations. Lucky for us, we only need to go across the street to see what’s fresh.
In-House Butchery: Fish are filleted and processed by our culinary team in Newport.
Byproduct Collection: Skins, bones, collars, heads, and scrape meat are separated and flash-frozen for upcycling.
Production Facility: We process these byproducts into goods at the Yaquina Lab, a local food innovation hub managed by the Central Coast Food Web.
Quality Assurance: Each product line is tested for safety, shelf life, and performance (whether for flavor or nutrition) at laboratories at Oregon State University or partner facilities in Portland.
Packaging & Distribution: Finished products are packed, labeled, and sold through our shop or delivered to wholesale partners (click for list of retailers).
Shop our 100% Fish products:
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Upcycled products from the 100% Fish program include
Fish Skin Dog Treats – Crisp, Omega-rich snacks made from local species.
Fish Jerky Cat Treats – Savory and chewy snacks from fish scrape.
Collagen-Rich Bone Broths – (In development) Nutrient-dense soup bases for sipping or steaming.
Marine Nutrients Plant Spray – (In development) for people who love plants.
Each product supports our goals of circularity, value-add processing, and local economic development.
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Carry our 100% Fish goods—email us to request a wholesale catalog.
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Want to keep your seafood waste out of the landfill? Let’s talk. We’ll help you turn it into a new income stream.
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We love to collaborate! Researchers, makers, chefs, and product developers—we want to hear from you.
𓆟 Frequently asked questions 𓆝
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Oregon is home to a plethora of local seafood species including rockfish, lingcod, salmon, halibut, petrale, sole, blackcod, and others depending on the season. We are also looking into developing products with shellfish such as dungeness crab, pink shrimp, clams, and oysters. Local Ocean only uses seafood that comes from sustainable sources and is caught ethically by fishers we know and trust.
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At the Yaquina Lab in Newport, OR—our production hub for sustainable, small-batch seafood innovation.
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Yes! Contact us to schedule a tour or discuss academic/industry collaboration.
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Email us at darlene@localocean.net to set up a wholesale account.
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We’re exploring partnerships with restaurants, processors, and fishers. Reach out to darlene@localocean.net get on our waitlist as our production capacity grows.
Become a 100% Fish Stockist
By carrying 100% Fish products, you’re helping reduce waste, support Oregon’s fishing community, and share a truly local story with your customers. Want to learn more about becoming a stockist—or have general questions about the program? Fill out the form and let’s start the conversation.