Evolving Challenges in Great Lakes Fisheries
The Laurentian Great Lakes are a unique
natural resource that has directly affected the lives of the citizens
of the United States and Canada. Their presence and importance to society
are evident in historical and modern day records of nearly every aspect
of civilization. One of the major focal points of the Michigan Sea Grant
College Program is to provide an understanding of the ecological factors
that affect our Great Lakes fisheries - a highly visible and important
product of the Great Lakes ecosystem.
The history of Great Lakes' fisheries is directly related to the cultural
values of those who live in the Great Lakes basin. As such, the Great
Lakes reflect the ever changing socio-economic landscape and the political
forces within both border countries. These forces have greatly influenced
the physical, chemical and biological makeup of the Great Lakes themselves.
I grew up on the shore of Lake Ontario at a
time when the lake was considered a wasteland for industrial and municipal
uses, and where alewives died on the beaches routinely from May throughout
the summer. The idea that Lake Ontario was a valuable fishery resource
seemed ludicrous to me. It was a time when beaches were closed due to
high bacterial counts, the stench of dead alewives was common, and people
viewed the inland oceans as places where societal waste could be diluted.
With marinas poorly developed, recreational fishing and boating on the
lakes was minimal. Sadly, perhaps because of my adolescent age, I accepted
the state of the lakes, lacking the vision that they would ever be much
of a fisheries resource. I had implicitly accepted the degraded aquatic
system.
Little did I know a social and ecological transformation was already
underway. By the time I arrived in Michigan in 1980, the Great Lakes
fisheries had become a valuable resource to Canadian and American citizens
of the Great Lakes basin. The waters and shorelines were clean, and
the recreational fisheries thriving. The basin residents had come together
- agreeing that a clean and healthy aquatic environment was fundamentally
important. A new generation of individuals had been mobilized to actively
maintain our vigilance in protecting and enhancing our Great Lakes and
their fisheries. Among the leaders of these efforts was the Michigan
Sea Grant College Program, whose efforts in research, communication
and advisory services, have assisted the residents of the Great Lakes
basin to be better stewards of these highly unique and valued freshwater
seas!
Today, new challenges are arising, many in the form of biological pollutants,
or aquatic nuisance species, entering our waters through our vast shipping
network. These invaders are having a significant influence on the structure
and function of our lakes and threaten to permanently change the productivity
pathways to our fishery resources. Michigan Sea Grant looks forward
to our continuing partnership with our local, state, federal and tribal
governance structures and our many publics to enhance our understanding
and well-being of our Great Lakes ecosystems.
William Taylor, Ph. D.
Michigan Sea Grant Associate Director
