Recipients of past awards

Each year, the Great Lakes Fishery Commission is proud to honor individuals or groups who make outstanding contributions to the Great Lakes. The commission’s three awards, and past recipients are below. Please note that an award is not made in every category every year.

The Jack Christie/Ken H. Loftus Award for Distinguished Scientific Contributions toward Understanding Healthy Great Lakes Ecosystems

This award recognizes those who made significant contributions to Great Lakes science.

2012:	Dr. Jim Bence, For large-scale research projects to understand food-web and population dynamics in each of the Great Lakes, which has helped agencies manage Great Lakes fish populations.
2011:	Dr. James Kitchell, For a distinguished career of teaching and conducting research in the Great Lakes basin. Specifically, his research regarding food web responses to ecosystem changes, trophic cascades, and fish bioenergetics has contributed to healthy Great Lakes ecosystems through improved fishery management decisionmaking.
2009:	Dr. John Casselman, for myriad contributions as a researcher, mentor, and leader, and for coordinating multi-national projects and pursuits to understand fish populations and their production through age and growth data, and using this information to understand the effects of climate change on fisheries and exotic species invasions and impacts.
2008:	Dr. Jan Ciborowski, for innovative leadership in the Lake Erie Millennium Plan to define and understand Lake Erie's most pressing problems, to propose solutions, and to track results. Also, for his ongoing pursuits and projects in assessing indicators of ecological health in the Great Lakes coastal region using fish and invertebrates as barometer.
2007:	Mr. Gary Isbell, for career-long efforts to improve the fishery, to prevent invasive species, to advance sea lamprey control, to improve habitat, and to support the Joint Strategic Plan process.
2006:	Mr. Phil Ryan, for outstanding work to convey and incorporate rapidly emerging and complex ecological processes into practical fisheries management.
2005:	Dr. Ed Mills, for his scientific leadership, for his work to strengthen the ecosystem approach to science and fisheries management, and for his many contributions to Great Lakes research.
2004:	Dr. Phil Moy, for tireless leadership in the effort to prevent the migration of Asian carp into the Great Lakes.
2003:	Mr. Randy Eshenroder, for contributions to the restoration of Great Lakes fish species.
2001:	Mr. Tom Gorenflo, Mr. Mark Holey, and Dr. Kelley Smith, for forging an historic tribal fishing agreement.
2000:	Dr. Ed Crossman, for lifetime contributions to understanding the Great Lakes fishery.

The C.D. "Buzz" Besadny Award for Fostering Great Lakes Partnerships

This award recognizes those who exemplified extraordinary commitment to building strong and lasting partnerships in Great Lakes resource management.

2012:	Dr. Scudder Mackey, For approaching the commission with a creative idea--to manipulate water flows in the St. Marys River to better understand sea lamprey trapping and the effectiveness of the sterile-male-release-technique. Also, for facilitating the development of this project, which received funds from the GLRI and was carried out by the GLFC and its partners.
2012:	Mr. Peter Johnson, For fostering myriad partnerships among the states, provinces, other governments, and partners to promote sustainable water management, resulting in the enactment of robust, legal protections for Great Lakes water and partnerships.
2011:	Mr. Robert MacGregor, For leading efforts to protect and restore the American eel in Lake Ontario and throughout its range by coordinating with federal, state, provincial, and industry interests in new and effective partnerships extending beyond the Great Lakes.
2010:	Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, for organizing a highly successful partnership involving multiple government agencies and the private sector to restore native Atlantic salmon to Lake Ontario. Mr. Dennis Grinold, for his lifelong commitment to protecting and enhancing the Great Lakes fishery. Mr. Andy Buchsbaum, for tireless energy in reaching out to interests that in the past have been assumed - often incorrectly - to be antithetical to Great Lakes protection, and for strong advocacy for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.
2009:	Mr. Mike Ryan, for a tireless commitment to protecting and enhancing the resources in the Great Lakes and for fostering partnerships among sport fishing groups, businesses, and industry.
2008:	Mr. Russ Piper, for helping the Ontario government bridge the ideological gap between sports fishers and commercial fishers and for leadership in land conservation practices that influence water quality and fish communities in Lake Erie.
2008:	Dr. Jack Wingate, for developing, reviewing, and sponsoring state and tribal proposals under the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act from 1998-2006.
2007:	Dr. John Cooley, for career-long contributions to Great Lakes science and management, for his work in building bi-national partnerships, and for support for the Partnership in Ecosystem Management Program.
2006:	Mr. Henry Buffalo Sr. and Mr. Richard Gurnoe, for their commitment, as reflected in the internal and external organizations that they created, to bring tribal government to the Joint Strategic Plan process.
2005:	Ms. Allegra Cangelosi and Ms. Joy Mulinex, for building new partnerships including partnerships with the Corps of Engineers and Fish and Wildlife Service. Also, for legislative advocacy for restoration of the Great Lakes.
2004:	Mr. Dick Reuss, for his leadership as U.S. advisor, for his support for the commission’s vision, and for his contributions to the success of the fishery.
2003:	Mr. Kevin Ramsey, Mr. Bill Lafferty, and the Ninth Coast Guard District, for developing new law enforcement partnerships.
2002:	Mr. Mark Ebener, for unparalleled contributions to the scientific understanding the Great Lakes ecosystem.
2001:	Mr. Ed Makauskas, for contributions to the Committee of Advisors.
2000:	Mr. Dennis Hickey, for creating partnerships between the commercial fishing industry and management agencies on Lake Michigan.

The Vernon Applegate Award for Outstanding Contributions to Sea Lamprey Control

This award recognizes those who furthered the cause of sea lamprey control on the Great Lakes.

2009:	Dr. Robert Young, for providing positive leadership while continually challenging conventional sea lamprey management techniques and for helping create and refine clear management goals and methods for sea lamprey control in the Great Lakes.
2007:	Ms. Jean Adams, for providing statistical support and scientifically sound analyses to most every professional member of the Sea Lamprey Control Program in both countries.
2006:	Mr. Joe Genovese, Mr. David Haight, and Mr. Jerome Keen, for efforts above and beyond their duties to keep the public, the media, and politicians informed about the sea lamprey control program.
2005:	Mr. John Heinrich, for his many outstanding contributions to the sea lamprey control program, including contributions to research, adult assessment, larval assessment, and the sterile-male-release-technique.
2004:	Dr. Mike Jones, for his outstanding work in organizing the SLIS II symposium and preparing the papers for publication.
2003:	Mr. Roger Bergstedt, Mr. Doug Cuddy, and Mr. Mike Fodale, for development, implementation, and assessment of the highly successful sea lamprey control effort on the St. Marys River.
2002:	Mr. Dorance Brege and Mr. Wayne Westman, for career achievements in delivering an effective sea lamprey control program for the United States and Canada.
2001:	Mr. Vic Gillman, for distinguished contributions to the sea lamprey program as manager of the Sea Lamprey Control Centre.
2000:	Mr. Mike Twohey, for innovative development of the sterile-male-release-technique.

The Great Lakes Fishery Commission invites you to nominate someone to receive a GLFC award. Awards are presented during the commission’s annual meeting in June of each year. The commission accepts nominations on a rolling basis and those not selected to receive an award one year will be considered in future years. For more information or to submit a nomination, please visit http://www.glfc.org/awards.htm

Photo: American Fisheries Society