**Great Lakes**

**Fisheries Extension Enhancement**

# Themes and Priorities

America's fisheries are under extreme stress from many sources, and new
management approaches must be found to cope with the difficult
challenges. The long list of needed research includes fish population
dynamics, stock assessment, habitat and ecosystem health, environmental
contamination, management strategies, fish biology and behavior, effects
of climate changes, management institutions, socioeconomic impacts, and
conflict resolution. Changes in fisheries affect society. It is
important that fisheries managers know how their decisions might affect
people who depend on fishery resources. When changes affect people, it
is equally important to help them cope.

## 

Great Lakes fish ecosystems are arguably the most important freshwater
fish ecosystems in the world, ones that support a multibillion-dollar
sport fishery, tribal subsistence fisheries, and a valuable commercial
fishery. The Lake Erie commercial fishery is the largest freshwater
commercial fishery in the world, and all of the Great Lakes support
large recreational fisheries. The regeneration of Great Lakes fisheries
is often linked to an economic renaissance of the associated coastal
communities, and as one of the region's original industries, it is an
important cultural and historic link to our Great Lakes heritage,
including that of the Native American tribes. Ecosystem stressors, such
as aquatic invasive species, improper land use, fluctuating nutrients,
over exploitation, and disease, challenge the integrity of the Great
Lakes fisheries. Well-informed management is critical in this highly
populated and environmentally sensitive region. Sea Grant researchers
will develop ecosystem models to improve Great Lakes management
techniques; find ways to cope with aquatic nuisance species; monitor and
mitigate effects of contaminants and educate the public about them; and
assess and identify ways to prevent loss of habitat.

The fiscal 2002 budget for the National Sea Grant College Program
included language requiring the enhancement of the fisheries portion of
Sea Grant's extension program. Congressional interest in an enhanced
fisheries extension program was further underscored by the National Sea
Grant College Program Act Amendments of 2002, which specified an annual
authorization for competitive grants for fishery extension activities
conducted by Sea Grant. With additional funding, Sea Grant is ready to
implement a sustained program that enhances fisheries extension services
to constituents, promotes sustainable U.S. fisheries resources, and
fully engages appropriate local, state, regional and federal fisheries
management agencies.

## 

In response to these directives, the National Sea Grant program has
directed its programs to begin coordinated efforts to plan for fisheries
extension enhancement at the regional scale by developing programmatic
themes, coordinating fisheries extension/outreach activities, and
enhancing communication between Sea Grant and management agency partners
relative to fisheries extension in the region, including the
determination of priorities for extension-related. 

The national Sea Grant Program has currently designated eleven themes to
guide Sea Grant program activities -- themes are not mutually exclusive
and specific program activities frequently support the goals of more
than one theme. 'Fisheries' is one of these eleven national Sea Grant
program themes, but fisheries related elements can be found in all
eleven. '*Fisheries' is thus defined more broadly in this document than
in the national fisheries theme, but excludes aquaculture, seafood, and
invasive species except as relevant to wild or stocked fish.*

The Great Lakes Sea Grant Network is a regional network of 8 Sea Grant
programs (MN, WI, IL-IN, MI, OH, NY, PA and Lake Champlain). Each
conducts activities in the areas of research, education and outreach
that are directly relevant to fisheries. *The following document is
based on current Strategic Plans and Implementation Plans for Minnesota,
Wisconsin, Illinois-Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and New York Sea Grant as
well as the Year 7 proposal and 68-month progress report for
Pennsylvania Sea Grant.* *New York and Pennsylvania Sea Grant are
bi-coastal programs (Great Lakes and Atlantic); however, only the Great
Lakes portions of their programs are considered here.*

## This regional planning document establishes priorities for fisheries extension enhancement in 8 theme areas: 

## Contaminants and Pathogens

## Habitat and Water Quality

## Food Webs

## Aquaculture and Hatcheries

## Native Species Restoration

## Public Involvement

## Economics

## Management

## 

## Each of these themes addresses identified National Sea Grant priorities established either within the fisheries theme itself or as a fisheries related element of one of the other national themes. At least one (usually more) of the state programs of the Great Lakes Sea Grant Network has identified ongoing priority activities within each of these themes and most have already identified each of these as an important theme for future expansion of effort within their respective planning documents. 

## Contaminants and Pathogens

Supporting National Themes: Fisheries, Seafood Science & Technology, and
Biotechnology

National Goals:

-   Improve the safety and quality of existing and new seafood and
    seafood-derived products.

-   Encourage and support a wide range of freshwater and marine
    biotechnology research for:

    -   Improving risk characterization of toxicants to aquatic animal
        life

    -   Enhancing aquaculture and seafood safety

Raising consumer awareness of the proper ways to handle, store and
prepare seafood to maximize safety and palatability is a critical
component of this theme. Objective information will help consumers make
educated decisions about the practices that best meet their individual
health needs and constraints. Because consumers are likely to utilize a
variety of information sources, an educational strategy that targets
information multipliers like Cooperative Extension and other food and
nutrition professionals, the media, industry, consumer, and sportfishing
groups, and retail and food service businesses is needed to effectively
and efficiently reach a broad consumer audience.

Sea Grant-sponsored research and technology transfer in the seafood
safety theme also helps the seafood industry improve methods for
assuring seafood safety. We need to find new ways to ensuring the safety
and quality of products through better storage, processing and packaging
techniques. One example of Sea Grant research and technology transfer in
this area is applying Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point methods in
commercial processing to ensure seafood safety.

This contaminants and pathogens theme goes beyond the scope of the
national seafood science theme to include the health of
fishery-dependent wildlife and the health of the fisheries themselves in
the face of risks due to contaminants and pathogens.

Highlighted Regional Issues:

-   Contaminants and pathogens affecting fish health

-   Fish tumors

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-   Avian botulism

-   Seafood safety

    -   Pathogens and toxins

    -   Transgenics

    -   HACCP

    -   Consumption advisories

    -   Language barriers in addressing subsistence fishing populations

**GLSGN Goals:**

-   Identify factors influencing disease prevalence in fish and
    shellfish and how to identify them, assess their impacts and manage
    them to reduce pathologies.

    -   Avian botulism

        -   Number range CHAPTERAvian botulism mortality rates in
            waterfowl and disease transmission pathways

        -   Number range CHAPTERDevelop workshops that address problems
            associated with avian botulism.

        -   Number range CHAPTERLeverage state agency support and
            resources re botulism outbreaks

        -   Develop Number range CHAPTERfact sheets and posters to
            identify the problems associated with avian botulism:
            dangers associated with the handling of dead birds and fish,
            food safety procedures pertaining to handling, cooking, and
            smoking of fish.

    -   Number range CHAPTERMonitoring of fish tumors

        -   Number range CHAPTERDevelop a monitoring plan for fish
            tumors

        -   Develop additional genetic biomarkers for fish tumors

            -   Number range CHAPTERGenetic research on the development
                of a biomarker (used to determine what chemicals cause
                tumor formation) for brown bullheads.

        -   Collection and analysis of fish tissue samples for dioxin
            and other contaminants.

        -   Histological studies pertaining to fish tumors

        -   Involve students in monitoring

        -   Number range CHAPTERResearch on hybridization of brown
            bullheads and other species susceptible to tumor promotion.

            -   Number range CHAPTERReproduction studies of brown
                bullheads.

    -   Assist in refining beneficial-use listing criteria in relation
        to fish tumors and deformities.

        -   Number range CHAPTERFacilitate the coordination of
            standardized fish tumor rates and severity ratings for all
            AOCs and to develop standardized listing and monitoring
            criteria for fish tumors and deformities in Great Lakes
            AOCs.

        -   Develop standardized criteria for the analysis of fish
            tumors and other deformities in Great Lakes AOCs and
            standardized tumor sampling for use in all AOCs.

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-   Develop more accurate approaches for assessing and predicting the
    risks to feral fish populations exposed to persistent
    bioaccumulative chemical contaminants.

    -   Explore mechanisms and sites of action of chemical contaminants
        on aquatic organisms.

    -   Evaluate the effects of exposure to endocrine-disrupting
        chemical contaminants on growth, development, reproduction,
        pathology, and disease control in wild and cultured fish.

    -   Develop gene microarrays in fish for identifying alterations in
        gene expression associated with chemical and physical stresses

        -   Communicate information about this issue and UW research on
            it to the public and potential investigators.

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-   Enhance the health of coastal residents by reducing the risks from
    contaminants and coastal pathogens

    -   Develop a better understanding of the fate and effect of toxic
        chemicals and biological contaminants in near shore waters,
        wetlands, and selected inland waters.

    -   Via an ecosystem approach, relate toxic substances/materials to
        trophic levels in the food chain that may be at risk because of
        high exposure.

    -   Study biomagnification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
        (PAHs) in round goby via zebra mussel consumption.

    -   Develop biotechnological tools for addressing problems and
        issues related to seafood products.

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-   Improve the quality and safety of commercial and sport-caught
    seafood products

    -   Providing the seafood industry with information for ensuring
        seafood safety.

        -   Describe the impacts of cultural habits of fish consumption,
            including preparation methods and quantities consumed.

        -   Identify the risks of contaminant burdens, pathogens and
            chemicals for seafood safety.

        -   Better describe environmental contaminant levels and fish
            advisories.

        -   Work on potential human health and wildlife advisories.

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    -   Develop techniques and risk management principles to maintain or
        increase seafood quality during the period from catch to
        consumption.

        -   Develop better methods for detecting contaminated seafood,
            improving processing and depuration, increasing storage
            life, and controlling parasites and disease sources.

        -   Develop cost-effective analytical techniques, and determine
            strategies for minimizing, eliminating or remediating
            potential impacts

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    -   Coordinate efforts by the seafood industry and federal, state
        and local regulatory authorities to enhance the safety of
        seafood products and to successfully complete the transition to
        a state-of-the-art food safety control system.

        -   Develop, test, and deliver new and innovative educational
            and training programs on seafood safety hazards and improved
            sanitation practices for consumers, the seafood industry and
            regulatory community as part of the national Seafood
            Education and HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point)
            Alliance.

        -   Support and conduct HACCP training for the seafood industry
            (and commercial and aquaculture industries).

        -   Improve HACCP compliance

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-   Help consumers understand the health risks of consuming seafood.

    -   Educate anglers, charter captains, and managers on the
        accumulation and synergistic effect of toxins in the organisms
        of the lake and its connecting waters to enhance their ability
        to make more informed decisions regarding consumption and
        management of Great Lakes species.

    -   Number range CHAPTERDevelop a curriculum on fish advisories,
        contaminants, and tumors affecting Great Lakes fish

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    -   Provide information to consumers detailing the potential health
        risks of consuming organisms obtained in contaminated water and
        the ways to reduce risk.

    -   Number range CHAPTERDeliver fish consumption advisories to
        anglers and at-risk members of the public.

    -   Number range CHAPTERNumber range CHAPTERDevelop new,
        user-friendly fish consumption advisories

    -   Provide information in a multi-lingual format, especially
        languages used by subsistence fishing communities

    -   Develop materials on Number range CHAPTER how to properly
        prepare fish in order to minimize intake of PCBs.

    -   Number range CHAPTERNumber range CHAPTERDevelop consumption
        advisories for snapping turtles.Number range CHAPTER

**Habitat and Water Quality**

Supporting National Themes: Fisheries, Ecosystems & Habitats, Aquatic
Invasive Species, Biotechnology, and Digital Ocean

National Goals:

-   Develop an ecosystem perspective in renewable resource management

-   Restore habitat and ecological conditions required by native species

-   Understand ecological variability and its role in resource
    management practices

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-   Developing a quantitative understanding of the structure and
    function of critical nearshore habitats and coastal ecosystems.

-   Identify the processes that control the transport, transformation
    and fate of biogeochemically important materials in the nearshore
    area, the impact of riverine inflows, and the influence of watershed
    management on coastal and estuarine systems.

-   Minimizing the negative impacts of human-induced changes to coastal
    ecosystems, and

-   Developing and implementing methods of restoring damaged coastal
    habitats.

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-   Understand the ecological changes effected by exotic aquatic species

-   Encourage and support a wide range of freshwater and marine
    biotechnology research for restoring and protecting aquatic
    ecosystems

Coastal areas host some of the most ancient, complex and productive
ecosystems on Earth. Coastal ecosystems are critical habitat for
numerous species of recreational fishes, waterfowl, and migratory birds.
A healthy national economy also depends on healthy coastal ecosystems;
which possess the capacity to supply two-thirds of the world's seafood.
Coastal areas provide essential habitat for 75% of U.S. commercial
landings of fish and shellfish as well as critical habitat for numerous
species of recreational fishes, waterfowl, migratory birds, amphibians
and mammals. The continuing rapid urbanization of our coasts has
destroyed a significant amount of coastal wetlands, degraded water
quality, and severely stressed coastal ecosystems.

Nowhere is an understanding of the linkages between terrestrial and
aquatic environments more critical to resource quality, sustainability
and management than in the Great Lakes region. With nearly 9,500 miles
of shoreline, the Great Lakes are aquatic systems dominated by their
coastal watersheds. Habitat issues are critical for sustainability of
Great Lakes' resources. According to the 1999 State of the Lakes Report,
prepared by the USEPA and Environment Canada, "Wetlands are important
ecologically, socially, and economically, and are one of the most
productive ecosystems in the world. Wetland plant and animal communities
are not only adapted to life on the edge of the terrestrial and aquatic
zones, they depend on it and on lake level fluctuations for their
continued survival."

Highlighted Regional Issues:

-   Successes of point-source discharge cleanups in promoting fisheries
    restoration

-   Habitat rehabilitation

-   Wetlands

-   Development in the coastal zone

-   Protection of biodiversity/genetic diversity

**GLSGN Goals:**

-   Foster better understanding of the ecological significance of Great
    Lakes fisheries

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-   Developing better qualitative and quantitative understanding of how
    coastal ecosystems and habitats function.

    -   Support research to enhance the understanding of the
        relationship of habitat productivity to fish health, production,
        and rehabilitation.

    -   Develop a better understanding of critical and/or sensitive
        coastal habitats that may have a significant effect on the
        population dynamics of specific fish species and/or their food
        source.

        -   Develop an understanding of the importance of the near-shore
            environments and its importance to the aquatic food web.

        -   Locate and document all spawning grounds.

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-   Number range CHAPTERAssessed the habitat needs and range of species
    of interest.

-   Design and implement a comprehensive research and outreach program
    to promote a balance between economic growth and coastal resource
    quality for healthy coastal communities and coastal ecosystems.

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-   Protect or Enhance Coastal Habitats

    -   Prevent the degradation of fish habitat

        -   Develop or refine techniques to determine the ecological
            value of coastal habitats, to examine the effect of human
            activities on habitat quality and/or habitat fragmentation,
            to determine if or when habitats have been degraded, and to
            identify and evaluate the effectiveness of remediation
            techniques to restore those habitats.

            -   Develop and promulgate educational programs that
                estimate human carrying capacity and manage human access
                to coastal areas.

            -   Support research and outreach efforts to determine the
                impacts of habitat alteration and loss on the fishery
                and the entire aquatic ecosystem.

    -   Promote fish habitat restoration

        -   Support research to enhance the understanding of fish
            ecosystem rehabilitation and enhancement

        -   Use small grants programs, endowments and public involvement
            to provide support for coastal habitat restoration.

            -   Educate community groups, professionals and agencies
                about the benefits of and techniques for improving the
                quality (structure or ecosystem function) of threatened,
                degraded or compromised coastal habitats (e.g., Areas of
                Concern).

            -   Create partnerships to improve and enhance spawning
                habitat and nursery grounds to optimize native species
                rehabilitation

            -   Number range CHAPTERWork with local fisheries groups to
                enhance native fish habitat structures.

            -   described the type and location of underwater
                structures.

    -   Support research and outreach efforts to determine the
        biological and economic impacts of artificial reefs and assist
        with their continued development where and when appropriate.

        -   Continue evaluations of fish use of artificial reefs

        -   Collaborate to establish a tagging program to characterize
            smallmouth bass use of artificial reefs.

        -   Support research to map artificial reefs and transfer the
            information to users.

        -   Investigate the development of a deep-water artificial reef
            demonstration project.

        -   Evaluate intentionally sinking vessels as artificial
            habitats and diver destinations

-   Quantify the potential effects of climate change on Great Lakes
    hydrology and ecosystems, including fisheries productivity.

-   Number range CHAPTEREcosystem impact of the round goby on Lake Erie
    tributary streams.

-   Develop biotechnological tools for addressing problems and issues
    related to ANS and water quality.

**Food Webs**

Supporting National Themes: Fisheries, Aquatic Invasive Species

National Goals:

-   Understand the ecological changes effected by exotic aquatic species

Highlighted Regional Issues:

-   Double-crested cormorant predation

-   Food web interactions

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-   AIS Impacts to Food Web Dynamics

    -   Mechanisms of food web disruption -- influence of size,
        morphometry, climate, latitude and community factors in
        mediating impacts

    -   Forecasting resultant food web structure

    -   Round goby, ruffe

    -   Impact of aquatic invasive species on the fishery

        -   Impacts to Lake Trout, yellow perch, smelt

**GLSGN Goals:**

-   Foster better understanding of the ecological significance of Great
    Lakes fisheries

-   Improve both the biological and human aspects of the Lake Michigan
    fishery through attainment, transfer, and application of knowledge
    concerning the Lake's food web and ecosystem dynamics

    -   Develop a process understanding of population, system and
        community-level changes in ecologically or economically
        important living coastal resources.

        -   Document changes in food web dynamics.

        -   Examine the effects of various physiological and behavioral
            processes on the dynamics of fished populations and their
            predators.

        -   Via an ecosystem approach, study the food web dynamics in
            southern Lake Michigan to gain a better understanding of
            certain elements of the food chain and the chemical and
            physical factors that significantly affect them.

        -   Develop new or use existing tools to evaluate the effects of
            recent ecosystem changes on current and future sport and
            commercial finfish and shellfish fisheries and to identify
            harvesting and management policy responses to overcome
            barriers to sustainability.

-   Develop an understanding of the importance of the near-shore
    environments and its importance to the aquatic food web.

-   Evaluate the significance of invertebrate species to planktonic and
    benthic food webs and the role of these organisms in the Great Lakes
    food web transfer of energy and contaminants.

-   Develop better energetics modeling for the biotic communities in
    Lake Superior.

-   Provide more information on how individual fish species fit into the
    Lake Superior fish communities.

-   Evaluate the biological impacts of exotic aquatic species on the
    Great Lakes' fisheries.

    -   Examine aquatic invasive species impacts on food web dynamics.

    -   Support research to enhance the understanding of the impact of
        invasive species on food web dynamics and fish populations

-   Develop biotechnological tools for addressing problems and issues
    related to ANS and fisheries.

**Public Involvement**

Supporting National Themes: Fisheries, Coastal Communities and
Economies, Aquatic Invasive Species

National Goals:

-   Improve coastal community leadership and planning capacities to
    jointly address economic, environmental and social issues.

Highlighted Regional Issues:

-   Declines in angling Effort

-   Public involvement in management decision processes

## 

## GLSGN Goals:

-   Foster better understanding of the historical and cultural
    significance of Great Lakes fisheries

-   Identify fisheries educational opportunities for K-12 students,
    teachers, and the public

-   Minimize the spread of aquatic nuisance species from Great Lakes'
    waters into inland waters.

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-   Number range CHAPTERIncrease awareness of exotic species transfer
    laws.

-   Number range CHAPTERDevelopment of outreach materials related to the
    transfer of AIS.

-   Continue outreach/education programs for the live bait industry,
    aquaculture, and angling public to prevent ANS spread.

    -   Enable the live bait industry to comply with new and pending
        regulations designed to control the spread of aquatic nuisance
        species and to help the industry implement a system for
        certifying bait species to be ANS-free.

    -   Number range CHAPTERANS HACCP training workshops for private
        bait fish dealers and fish production managers

    -   Number range CHAPTERContinue to facilitate ANS HACCP workshops
        at regional and state venues.

-   Improve the decision-making processes.

    -   Generate databases of public opinions, attitudes, and values to
        influence management decisions.

        -   Continue socio-economic research with coastal recreational
            users including surveys at boat and sport shows.

    -   Share research results with professional associations (e.g. Lake
        Erie Marine Trades Association) to aid in prioritizing research.

    -   Empower interested citizen leaders to participate in
        decision-making processes

        -   Great Lakes Fisheries Leadership Institute

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-   Reverse the decline in sport fishing participation and enable
    fishing businesses to retain clientele.

    -   Explore ways to interact with the National Outreach Strategy for
        Recreational Fishing and Boating to increase participation in
        angling and boating.

    -   Continue to host Sea Camp for 4-H youth and develop a Lake Erie
        Fishing program for 4-H.

-   Increase recreational access.

    -   Assist coastal communities with planning to upgrade coastal
        parks, beaches and marina facilities.

**Economics**

Supporting National Themes: Fisheries, Coastal Communities & Economies,
Seafood Science & Technology, Biotechnology

National Goals:

-   Help coastal communities achieve economic and environmental
    sustainability

-   Improve the shelf-life and marketability of existing and new seafood
    and seafood-derived products.

-   Encourage and support a wide range of freshwater and marine
    biotechnology research for developing new pharmaceuticals,
    biomaterials and bioprocesses

Coastal communities depend on healthy ecosystems for their economic
survival. Population growth, increasing tourism and development can
compromise the health and integrity of coastal ecosystems and, in turn,
the economic sustainability of coastal communities. Economic growth must
complement environmental conservation in a way that meets present needs
without compromising future generations' quality of life: That is the
definition of sustainability.

The changing structure of coastal businesses and industries offers
opportunities for Sea Grant to contribute to the regional economy. The
current service-centered (recreation, tourism, marina, etc.) emphasis
now rivals the commercial trade, transportation, and resource product
emphasis (manufacturing, commercial fishing, and seafood processing)
that dominated coastal business activities for most of the eighteenth,
nineteenth, and twentieth centuries. As more of the population has moved
toward the coasts, the service industry has developed to meet the needs
of the coastal migrants and to respond to the desires of residents and
visitors alike for access to coastal attractions. Tourism, including
ecotourism and nature-based tourism, is playing a greater role in the
economy the Great Lakes region. As sportfishing activities decline with
the fisheries, chambers of commerce are looking for alternative
marketing strategies to lure tourists and their dollars. In 2002, the
estimated 1,746 Great Lakes charter firms made an estimated 93,209
charter trips. In the Great Lakes Region, these charter-fishing firms
brought in estimated total sales of \$34.5 million.

This national theme (seafood safety) aims to develop new ways for
Americans to reap the bounty of our waters on a sustainable basis. Sea
Grant-sponsored research and technology transfer in this theme helps the
seafood industry by improving processing technology. We need to develop
markets for underused species.

Examples of Sea Grant-supported research and technology transfer in this
area includes developing super-absorbant gels from fish protein
extracts, and finding ways to use omega-3 fatty acids common in fish
oils as nutraceuticals -- foods or food additives that confer
nutritional, therapeutic or preventative medical benefits to individuals
at risk for cardiovascular disease, certain forms of cancer and
diabetes, hypertension and other health problems.

The seafood industry could gain from efforts to develop innovative
marketing strategies. These strategies should aim to make consumers
aware of the many positive nutritional benefits associated with seafood
consumption. Objective information will help consumers make educated
decisions about the practices that best meet their individual health and
economic needs and constraints. Such information could also form the
basis of marketing campaigns for seafood retailers, serving the needs of
the consumer and industry at the same time.

Highlighted Regional Issues:

-   service-centered (recreation, tourism, marina, etc.)

    -   Charter Businesses

    -   Marinas

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    -   Tourism

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-   commercial trade and resource product emphasis (commercial fishing
    and seafood processing)

-   Biological

    -   Key species (commercial and recreational) - lake herring,
        whitefish, salmonids, siscowet

-   Human Dimensions

    -   Regional Economic Value

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-   Seafood Economic value to region/nation

-   Seafood Profitability

-   Seafood Marketing

    -   New seafood products

    -   Seafood Health benefits

**GLSGN Goals:**

-   Foster better understanding of the economic significance of Great
    Lakes fisheries

    -   Provide economic impact data on Great Lakes fisheries to
        decision-makers

    -   Number range CHAPTERDevelop an economic survey of the Lake Erie
        steelhead fishery.

-   Facilitate Sustainable Use of Economically Important Coastal
    Fisheries

    -   Develop capabilities to predict socio-economic responses of
        coastal communities to changes in fishery resources or
        accessibility.

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    -   Support the economic viability of the sport and commercial
        fisheries

    -   Prepare a technical summary evaluating economic impact of a
        potential buy-out of the commercial fishery and inform
        decision-makers of the results

    -   Work with commercial, tribal, and sport fishers to lead efforts
        to enhance and promote the economic viability of Michigan's
        Great Lakes fisheries

    -   Use new biotechnology techniques to determine genetics of
        economically important fish.

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-   Support balanced use of coastal resources

    -   Design and implement a comprehensive research and outreach
        program to promote a balance between economic growth and coastal
        resource quality for healthy coastal communities and coastal
        ecosystems.

        -   Identify, assess and encourage the use of innovative
            techniques and technologies to prevent, control or reduce
            the environmental impact of marina operations, boating and
            other coastal-dependent businesses in a cost-effective
            manner.

    -   Support research and outreach efforts to determine the economic
        impacts of various types of coastal recreation to assist
        resource managers.

    -   Continue socio-economic research with coastal recreational users
        including surveys at boat and sport shows.

    -   Design and evaluate approaches to enhance tourism and
        eco-tourism opportunities that help develop and/or promote
        environmentally-sustainable economically-stable tourism markets.

-   Evaluate the economic impacts of exotic aquatic species on the Great
    Lakes' fisheries.

-   Increase the profitability (competitiveness) of marine businesses
    through business and technology research, education, and outreach. -
    Assist fisheries-dependent businesses in improving management,
    operation programs, marketing strategies and responses to
    regulations and management policies to enhance business efficiency,
    effectiveness, cost competitiveness, and profitability.

    -   Help develop and initiate, in partnership with industry groups
        and federal, state, and local regulatory authorities, effective
        consumer education strategies that support wise growth and
        development of the seafood industry.

        -   Expanding aquatic animal product utilization.

        -   Develop innovative, cost-effective technologies for
            processing seafood and bringing new products to market.

        -   Helping consumers understand the health benefits of
            consuming seafood.

            -   Determine health implications of omega fatty acids and
                fish oil supplements.

    -   Increase profitability in the charter fishing industry through
        business and technology development and education.

        -   Conduct the Ohio Charter Captains Conference annually and
            conduct business surveys every 4-5 years.

        -   Number range CHAPTEREstablish a relationship with charter
            boat operations conducting business on the Lake Erie
            shoreline of Pennsylvania, while providing data that would
            be of benefit to all.

        -   Number range CHAPTEREnhance the continued development and
            use of the Erie Bayfront as a charter boat tourism resource
            and destination for local and out-of-town anglers.

    -   Continue to cooperate to inventory and report boat sales
        figures.

        -   Conduct research to upgrade and refine figures on the
            economic impact of and share/interpret the results for
            decision makers.

    -   Concentrate research and outreach efforts to support business
        development and retention in tackle manufacturing and sales,
        bait production and sales, etc.

    -   Develop new uses for seafood and Great Lakes fisheries products
        and by-products, including finding novel uses for by-catch,
        invasive exotic fishes and underutilized species for developing
        new fisheries.

        -   Evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of using
            fish oils for making nutraceuticals.

        -   Determine potential uses, product development, and
            marketability of the siscowet trout and other nontraditional
            species.

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        -   Conduct a synthesis workshop to explore the fishery
            management, product development, and marketing issues
            surrounding the development of a siscowet trout fishery for
            their oil or other use.

**Management**

Supporting National Themes: Fisheries, Digital Ocean, Aquatic Invasive
Species, Seafood Science and Technology

National Goals:

-   Partner to develop an integrated and sustained ocean observing
    system

-   Develop tools to assimilate data from distributed observatories

-   Connect these assimilated data with various existing computer models

Current U.S. facilities are demonstrating that the technology exists to
collect real-time ocean data and readily share it via the Internet.
Remote sensing, real time data collection and analysis, wireless
telemetry from fixed instruments, better fish stock assessment tools,
... all offer tremendous opportunities to improve fisheries management.

The Great Lakes region is in the vanguard of development of integrated
ocean observing systems (IOOS). The Great Lakes Sea Grant Network is
among the lead players in development of a business plan for a Great
Lakes Observing System (GLOS) and will likely lead the development of
outreach for such a system.

This national theme (seafood safety) aims to develop new ways for
Americans to reap the bounty of our waters on a sustainable basis. As
wild fish stocks decline, we need to find new ways to reduce waste and
by-catch by improving fishing gear.

Highlighted Regional Issues:

-   Stocking

-   Management implications

-   Public involvement in management decision processes

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-   Seafood Regulatory changes

-   Sustainable commercial harvests

**GLSGN Goals:**

Improve management of Great Lakes commercial and recreational fisheries
from a whole-ecosystem perspective -- Improve the decision-making
processes.

-   Develop methods and models

    -   Support research to enhance the understanding of fish production
        and recruitment dynamics

    -   Develop better ecosystem models so resource managers can improve
        fishery forecasts.

    -   Continue to support and lead ecosystem modeling efforts through
        the International Joint Commission and its Council of Great
        Lakes Research Managers.

    -   Support research and outreach efforts to develop and evaluate a
        variety of alternative allocation strategies.

    -   Determine sustainable fisheries harvest levels by species (sport
        and commercial).

    -   Develop predictive models of fish population/production
        dynamics.

    -   Develop predictive models of fish recruitment dynamics

    -   Provide information about Lake Superior predator-prey
        relationships and the impacts on commercial and recreational
        fishing of the introduction of predator fish.

    -   Develop models that link hydrodynamics and water quality to fish
        or shellfish biomass and production.

    -   Put fisheries simulation models on a Web site so that interested
        commercial fishermen, anglers, environmentalists, teachers,
        students and others can explore how the Lake Superior fishery
        may change with changing management strategies.

    -   Publish all historical data on fisheries on a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM,
        or on the Web

    -   Build on work pioneered by Sea Grant to develop methods for
        creating digital representations, or models, of aquatic
        resources and phenomena.

        -   Developing new technologies and new products that help us
            better understand and manage Great Lakes and coastal
            resources.

        -   Applying technological advances to coastal, as well as
            inland, problems and needs.

        -   Using technological advances to teach students and train
            professionals in aquatic resource management, particularly
            with regard to Great Lakes, marine, and coastal issues.

        -   Use new technologies to assess fish stocks in the Great
            Lakes.

-   Facilitating formulation of appropriate natural resources public
    policy. -- Seek opportunities to collaborate with resource
    management agencies and assist in the development management
    strategies.

    -   Develop collaborative programs with the Ohio Department of
        Natural Resources and Ohio Division of Wildlife to assist in the
        development and evaluation of management strategies.

    -   Assist management agencies with conflict resolution and
        gathering user input.

        -   Develop and prioritize research and outreach efforts related
            to the evaluation of coastal recreation in collaboration
            with management agencies, the private sector, and local
            governments.

        -   Support research and outreach efforts to determine the
            economic and environmental impacts of various types of
            coastal recreation to assist resource managers.

        -   Generate databases of public opinions, attitudes, and values
            to influence management decisions.

        -   Share research results with state and regional management
            agencies to aid in prioritizing research.

    -   Identify and evaluate modifications that will maintain or
        restore fisheries health by reducing inadvertent fishing
        mortality in recreational fisheries, bycatch in commercial
        fisheries and overall gear effects on habitats.

    -   Develop information on how to control effort, how to identify
        sustainable effort, and how sanctuaries can contribute to
        fisheries sustainability.

    -   Develop programs, in cooperation with federal, state, and local
        governments, to quantify and minimize the impact of aquatic
        nuisance species and to control and prevent their introduction
        into coastal and Great Lakes waters. - Develop scientific
        approaches to guide control practices for dealing with exotic
        aquatic species.

        -   Minimize the spread of aquatic nuisance species from Great
            Lakes' waters into inland waters.

            -   Number range CHAPTERDevelopment and implementation of
                new regulations banning possession of injurious invasive
                species.

        -   Enable the live bait industry to comply with new and pending
            regulations designed to control the spread of aquatic
            nuisance species and to help the industry implement a system
            for certifying bait species to be ANS-free.

            -   Number range CHAPTERANS HACCP training workshops for
                federal and state agency staff; fish production
                managers; and fish management personnel, consultants,
                and researchers

            -   Collaborate with the Ohio Division of Wildlife to
                develop a HACCP-style live bait inspection and
                certification procedure that can be adopted by the live
                bait industry.

        -   Number range CHAPTERDevelopment of statewide Invasive
            Species Management Plans (with state agencies)

-   Assist fisheries managers, industry, and coastal communities in
    understanding the social, economic, and legal impacts of management
    strategies.

    -   Support research to enhance the fish management strategies

    -   Train skilled fisheries managers for the Great Lakes

    -   Collaborate with the State Agencies on research and outreach
        efforts to evaluate management strategies and disseminate
        results..

    -   Provide education and training for emerging fishery leaders -
        Train leaders of commercial fishing, recreational fishing,
        tribal, and environmental organizations in the science behind
        fishery and ecosystem management.

        -   Developing a comprehensive curriculum to train emerging
            Great Lakes fishery leaders about the processes that
            influence fisheries management decisions, genetics,
            stocking, and native fish restoration.

        -   Crafting educational materials that will complement fishery
            management objectives and assist recreational anglers
            fishing on Lake Superior

        -   Educate anglers and charter captains on food-web and
            ecosystem dynamics thereby empowering them to be informed
            participants in the debate over management and regulation of
            the fishery.

-   Empower interested citizen leaders to participate in decision-making
    processes

    -   Work with commercial, tribal, and sport fishers to adopt
        practices based on sound science

    -   Work with commercial, tribal, and sport fishers to facilitate
        stakeholder consensus

    -   Facilitating the activities and success of the Great Lakes
        Fishery Leaders, a cohort of individuals with the knowledge and
        skills to effectively mange Great Lakes fisheries issues.

**Aquaculture**

Supporting National Themes: Aquaculture, Biotechnology

National Goal: Develop the scientific, technological information and
expertise needed to propagate and successfully culture fish with
commercial and/or recreational value to the United States as well as the
rest of the world.

Worldwide, aquaculture is the fastest growing sector of agriculture. The
growth of the aquaculture industry is driven, to a large extent, by
three factors: (1) the expanding human population, (2) the fact that
harvests of many of the world's wild fisheries have met or exceeded
their maximum sustainable yield, and (3) an increase in per capita
seafood consumption, based largely on the increasing realization of the
health benefits of diets high in seafood.

Highlighted Regional Issues:

-   Decline in wild harvests/ Reduce fishing pressure on wild stocks

-   Bait, stocking

-   Cool-climate freshwater species,

-   Negative environmental impacts (on wild fish)

    -   Effluent

    -   AIS

    -   Disease

    -   Genetic contamination

-   Intensive culture methods

    -   Stress and disease

GLSGN Goals:

-   Develop new technology

    -   Establish the biological, physical, chemical, environmental and
        economic parameters for optimizing the performance of various
        aquaculture systems particularly Recirculating Aquaculture
        Systems and other Intensive Aquaculture Technology.

        -   Develop biotechnological tools for addressing problems and
            issues related to aquaculture.

    -   Develop grow out system technology and increase the fundamental
        knowledge of animal husbandry in such areas as reproduction,
        hatchery technology, growth, nutrition, and disease diagnosis
        and control. Enhance aquaculture through biotechnology by
        developing heartier fish, healthier feeds, and improved
        strategies for disease control.

        -   Use new biotechnology techniques to determine genetics of
            economically important fish.

        -   Improve the growth and controlled reproduction of cultured
            fish by developing biotechnological approaches.

        -   Conduct basic research to improve the nutritional and
            reproduction efficiencies of cool water species.

        -   Number range CHAPTERA fish integrated nutrient system for
            hybrid striped bass.

        -   Investigate the key life cycles and nutritional requirements
            of baitfish species that should be exploited for
            aquaculture.

        -   Improve fish feed effectiveness through nutritional
            analyses, life-stage feeding strategies and the use of
            alternative feed ingredients.

        -   Improve feeding efficiency and feed cost-effectiveness
            through nutritional analysis and identification of
            alternative nutrient sources, especially using locally grown
            plants.

        -   Characterize and develop methodologies to control the
            adverse effects of stress on intensively cultured fish.

        -   Identify, detect and control disease and parasites to
            maintain fish health in aquaculture systems.

            -   Number range CHAPTERControl and prevention of infectious
                salmon anemia.

-   Fostering an environmentally-sound aquaculture industry.

    -   Water quality control, aquatic toxicology, and waste management
        in recirculating aquaculture systems.

    -   Develop improved, environmentally-sensitive methodologies and
        technologies to treat aquaculture effluent cost-effectively
        (meet effluent water quality standards).

    -   Provide training to baitfish producers on how to control the
        spread of ANS in their harvest and stocking activities.

    -   Develop environmental risk assessment approaches for
        genetically-modified fish in aquaculture facilities.

-   Identify and respond to needs and opportunities for producing fish
    in support of scientific research and native species rehabilitation.

    -   Develop technical information on aquaculture organisms, systems
        and techniques to support rehabilitation or sustainability of
        aquatic populations by overcoming current technological,
        marketing, regulatory or policy barriers to aquaculture
        development.

    -   Develop aquaculture techniques for species that are currently
        harvested from the wild or are at or beyond sustainable
        production levels.

**Native Species Restoration**

This national theme (seafood safety) aims to develop new ways for
Americans to reap the bounty of our waters on a sustainable basis. As
wild fish stocks decline, we need to find new ways to reduce waste and
by-catch by improving fishing gear, developing markets for underused
species, and ensuring the safety and quality of products through better
storage, processing and packaging techniques.

Highlighted Regional Issues:

-   Biological

    -   Restoration of native species -- coaster brook trout, lake
        sturgeon, Iowa darter

    -   Key species (commercial and recreational) - lake herring,
        whitefish, siscowet

-   Human Dimensions

    -   Stocking :

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-   Successes of point-source discharge cleanups in promoting fisheries
    restoration

-   Habitat rehabilitation

**GLSGN Goals:**

Support restoration of native fish species

-   Identify factors and conditions necessary for rehabilitation of
    self-sustaining populations of native fish species.

    -   Elucidate the dynamics of yellow perch recruitment and identify
        the key factors preventing the fishery's recovery from a
        population collapse in the early 1990s in Lake Michigan and
        recently in Green Bay.

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    -   Examine factors critical to coaster brook trout rehabilitation.

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    -   Examine factors critical to lake sturgeon rehabilitation.

    -   Number range CHAPTERCulture and ultimately restore the Iowa
        darter (state endangered species) and other species in Lake
        Erie.

        -   Number range CHAPTERcollected Iowa darters from Presque Isle
            Bay and attempting to develop brood stock for the
            restoration and restocking of this species to its historic
            range.

    -   Number range CHAPTERGenetics study on native mussel and fish
        relationships

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-   Identify and respond to needs and opportunities for producing fish
    in support of scientific research and native species rehabilitation.