News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: July 14, 2025
Contact: Megan Wittman, megan.wittman@sierraclub.org

Participants from Across the Globe Set a New World Record in Effort to Protect the Great Lakes and Stop Line 5

“Fish for the Future” has officially broken the world record for largest display of origami fish

MILWAUKEE, Wis. – In a massive collective effort to protect the Great Lakes and shut down Line 5, organizations and participants part of the Fish for the Future campaign broke the world record for the largest display of origami fish. The campaign collected a total of 86,262 fish. The collection debuted at the Urban Ecology Center this weekend.

Participants across the world mailed origami fish in thousands of fish to promote protecting our water and shutting down the Line 5 pipeline. The world record for largest display of origami fish was previously set at 18,303 origami fish by a group in Japan.

At the world record-breaking announcement, participants took action and contacted Governor Whitmer’s office to ask her to deny permits for the Line 5 tunnel in the Straits of Mackinac.

The new world record of 86,262 paper fish include:

• Fish from all 50 states as well as Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, Canada, and Mexico

• 15,596 fish made by an Akira Toki Middle School science class in Madison, Wisconsin

• Fish from over 70 groups across the Great Lakes region, including religious organizations and congregations, schools, scout groups, climate action organizations, and more

Couldn’t make the event? Check out the full photo gallery from this weekend.

Fish for the Future members released the following statements:

Elizabeth Ward, Chapter Director at Sierra Club Wisconsin: “We have been blown away by the support and enthusiasm for this project. People from across the world folded fish to be a part of this world record to protect our water and shut down Line 5. Line 5 continues to trespass on Tribal land and jeopardize the safety of our water, farmland, and natural landscapes. We’re proud to be a part of this project and take action with the thousands of participants who folded fish for this new world record.”

Erica Bouldin, Engagement Coordinator at Michigan Climate Action Network: “At a time of increasing division, the Fish for the Future campaign showed that no matter where you live, we all have a common need for clean water. Each unique fish that poured in from across the country was a reminder that advocacy can show up in many forms, and that we can have a little fun while making a big difference toward shutting down Line 5 once and for all.”

Annie Carrell, Healthy Climate Wisconsin member and nurse practitioner: “As a health professional, I oppose the Line 5 pipeline because it endangers the health of our communities—threatening clean water, increasing pollution, and exacerbating the climate crisis. We must prioritize long-term public health and environmental justice over short-term fossil fuel interests.”

Britnie Remer at 350 Wisconsin: “When 'Fish for the Future' launched, we knew it was going to take monumental effort–witnessing it has been nothing short of amazing. The collective action of thousands of people who all believe in a future where water is safe, clean, and protected, has been a shining example of what is possible when we come together. This immense accomplishment sends a clear message: Protecting the water now, and for generations to come, matters more than risky oil pipelines like Line 5.”

Debbie Chizewer, Managing Attorney for Earthjustice: “These folded fish are more than just scraps of paper. They are the voices of tens of thousands of people from all walks of life, joined together in defense of clean water and our shared future in the Great Lakes. It is time for leaders in Wisconsin and Michigan to listen to their constituents, stand up to foreign corporate pressure, and finally decommission the dangerous Line 5 pipeline.”

Jennifer Schlicht, Clean Water Action: “It was wonderful to see people across the country coming together to break this record. Our final fish were folded on Mackinac Island, beside the Straits that Line 5 crosses. As we approach the 15th anniversary of the Kalamazoo Oil Spill, this only reinforced how important it is to protect our freshwater future from Enbridge's dangerous Line 5. Unlike fossil fuels, our Great Lakes are a wonderful, irreplaceable resource.”

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