Fisheries Extension in Southern Lake Michigan

Recreational fishing (i.e. angling) is a socially and economically important in the Great Lakes, with almost 2 million people spending billions of dollars each year. Anglers are incredibly diverse and have extensive needs for good communication of fisheries science and other issues that impact recreational fisheries. Purdue Extension and Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant have been working with state agencies in southern Lake Michigan to build an extension and outreach program for anglers in the region. This program includes hosting regular workshops where anglers can interact with scientists and managers, producing informational publications and developing interactive websites for anglers and other stakeholders. These websites, such as www.anglerarchive.org and www.fishatlas.org, are increasing the utility of fisheries data collected over the past 30 years and may become a valuable communication tool. This presentation will summarize the extension and outreach program for anglers in southern Lake Michigan and seek discussion on challenges and potential innovations for programs around the Great Lakes.