University of Alaska Fairbanks has developed a nutritious and delicious dog treat using the skins of wild Alaska Pollock (aka Walleye Pollock) fish.
The Market: The U.S. dog treat market is worth more than $3 billion dollars. Dog treats are considered a recession resilient product. Using Pollock skins for dog treats not only represents a great business opportunity but also would help the environmental by reducing waste and would find a partner in the fishing industry by adding value to their catch.
Competitive Advantage: Alaska has the largest pollock fishery in the U.S. and one of the largest in the world. pollock skins are a byproduct of pollock processing that currently get ground into fish meal or disposed of. As such, pollock skins are very affordable.