Spring fishery workshop offered on status of the Lake Erie and Detroit River fishery
Topics include key Lake Erie, Detroit River issues, walleye tagging, algae blooms mudpuppy research, and fish reef construction.
Michigan Sea Grant and Michigan State University Extension, in partnership with the Huron Valley Sportfishing Club, Michigan Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Division, Michigan Office of the Great Lakes, Ohio Sea Grant, NOAA Cooperative Institute for Limnology and Ecosystems Research, and Ohio Department of Natural Resources will be hosting an evening regional fishery workshop on Thursday April 16 from 6-9 p.m. at the American Legion Post No. 200 located at 11800 Michael St. in Taylor, Michigan.
The workshop is free and open to the public, and will provide valuable information for anglers, charter captains, resource professionals, and other community members interested in attending. Speakers and topics to be covered include:
- Lake Erie Critical Issues – Tory Gabriel, Ohio State University Sea Grant
- Walleye Tagging Program Update – Chris Vandergoot, Ohio Department of Natural Resources
- Lake Erie/Detroit Rivers Fish Contaminant Data and the Eat Safe Fish Program – Michelle Bruneau, Michigan Department of Community Health
- Lake Erie & Detroit River Fishery Update (highlighting 2014 gill net and trawl survey results, creel data and any fishing regulation changes) – Todd Wills, Michigan Department of Natural Resources
- Lake Erie Algal Blooms – Sonia Joshi, Cooperative Institute for Limnology and Ecosystems Research
- St. Clair-Detroit Rivers Mudpuppy Research Project & 2015 Detroit River Fish Reef Construction Project at Grassy Island – Mary Bohling, MSU Extension educator, Michigan Sea Grant.
These workshops serve as a valuable networking and educational opportunity. Recreational anglers have the opportunity to become better educated – learning about feeding trends of predator fish species may prove valuable in deciding where to fish or what lures to put into play while fishing this year.
Fishery businesses— sportfishing charters, commercial fishing, and bait shops— gain insights related to Lake Erie fisheries resources around which their business depends. This information is useful in adapting business strategies, ranging from fishing practices to business marketing.
In trade for the informational updates they share, governmental research and management agencies value insights and input from this dialogue with anglers and citizen stakeholders on various fisheries management topics. The effectiveness of fisheries research and management, as well as community values gained from the Lake Erie fishery is enhanced.
All are welcome to attend. Pre-registration by April 13 is appreciated. You can register for the event through the Michigan Sea Grant website. For program information or other questions, contact Mary Bohling at Michigan Sea Grant bohling@msu.edu (preferred) or 313-410-9431.
Workshops are also being offered for Lake St. Clair and several Lake Huron locations. Details are available online on the Michigan Sea Grant website.