A Common Purpose

In the context of Great Lakes fisheries, we hear the word “stakeholders” often. Yet every now and then, it is necessary to reflect on who these people are and why they are important.

In Michigan, Great Lakes fisheries stakeholders include everyone with a common vision of protecting, improving and sustaining our Great Lakes fishes and their habitats. This dynamic group includes commercial fishermen, charter captains, fisheries managers, volunteer leaders and all who are passionate about the fishery. Their diverse interests may lie in the health and abundance of their favorite game species, the economic ramifications of changes in the fishery, or the overall sustainability of the Great Lakes ecosystem. All have a vested interest—something at stake—personally, ethically and economically.

This issue of upwellings sheds light on some of the issues faced by one particular group of stakeholders—Michigan’s commercial fishermen. In addition to fishing, many must now consider ways to market and sell their product to make a living. Marketing in its purest sense means identifying and solving customer (or stakeholder) problems profitably. As traditional markets for lake whitefish evolve, along with consumer knowledge and preferences, the “profit” is an ecologically sustainable and economically viable fishery. “Marketing Great Lakes Whitefish” explores some of these industry challenges as well as the creative ideas and actions now emerging.

In September, another group of Michigan’s Great Lakes fisheries stakeholders attended Sea Grant’s Great Lakes Fisheries Leadership Institute during sessions held throughout the state. More than a year in planning, the institute builds on the recognition that fisheries stakeholders are critical components of the management process. Sessions are designed to educate tomorrow’s fisheries leaders about the biological fundamentals, political complexities and overall management of the world’s greatest freshwater fishery.

Among the curriculum material used at the institute is the recently revised edition of The Life of the Lakes: A Guide to the Great Lakes Fishery. The book chronicles the role of our fishery and aquatic professionals in understanding and managing a wide range of issues. The book is a wonderfully comprehensive and holistic examination of the complexity of the Great Lakes fishery and the critical role of its many diverse stakeholders.

William Taylor, Ph. D.
Michigan Sea Grant Associate Director