Annual Report of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission

1989

1989 News Brief

The United States government allowed for the appointment of an alternate commissioner to its section.

Commissioners

Canadian Section:               U.S. Section:
Pierre Asselin                  James Cady
Henry A. Regier                 Becky Norton Dunlop
Paul Sutherland, Vice-Chair     Charles K. Dutcher, alternate
George Whitney                  Charles C. Krueger
                                James M. Ridenour, Chair

Sea Lamprey Management and Research

Several toxicity tests were conducted during the Sturgeon River treatment to determine whether treatment levels lethal to sea lampreys could be tolerated by lake sturgeon. The river was successfully treated with no adverse effects to sturgeon.
Dave Borgson (MDNR) noted that the new wave of electrical barriers that Michigan had been evaluating the past two years may become a viable substitute, or at least a low cost supplement, for widespread chemical treatments.
Habitat improvements in the Spanish River contributed to the re-emergence of large lamprey populations in the river. The commission treated the Spanish River in 1989, the first time since 1972; the treatment was a success.

Fishery Management, Environment, and Research

The commission continued intensive efforts to focus greater attention on the issue of nonindigenous species. Three phases of action were identified: 1) implement an effective method of preventing Great Lakes introductions via ballast water; 2) strengthen the ballast exchange program (e.g. 100% compliance); and 3) reinforce efforts within a national/continental/global framework of legislation, codes, research and development, and capital support.
The commission assisted the Canadian Coast Guard in the development of Canadian Great Lakes Ballast Water Control Guidelines and sponsored a workshop to develop study proposals on compliance and effectiveness of the Guidelines.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reported that stock assessment research would remain the top priority for the Service. The Service noted that new research dollars would be devoted to climate warming, wetlands, and zebra mussels.
The commission funded Dr. Joe Leach (OMNR) and Dr. Ed Mills'(Cornell U) overview of introductions of exotics into the Great Lakes.
Dr. Lee Anderson (U of Delaware) received funds to produce an introduction to economic valuation principles for fisheries management.

Communications

The commission wrote to the Canadian Coast Guard concerning the need for 100% compliance with Canadian Great Lakes Ballast Water Control Guidelines and for inclusion of the lower St. Lawrence River under the guidelines.

Publications

A Decision Support System for the Integrated Management of Sea Lamprey, by Koonce and Locci-Hernandez. (SP 89-1)

Committee Action, Resolutions, and Reports

Lake Committees

The Council of Lake Committees adopted a resolution calling for the management of intra-basin ballast water to prevent the spread of ruffe. The CLC also urged agencies to develop contingency plans to prevent access of ruffe into important fisheries connected to the Great Lakes. The CLC endorsed the Model Program to Minimize the Risk of Introducing Disease Agents with Imported Fish Stocks, which was developed by the Great Lakes Fish Disease Control Committee.
The Lake Erie Committee encouraged Lake Erie fisheries management agencies to maintain sound harvest monitoring programs, as these data were essential for task groups evaluating population status and predicting future abundance. The committee approved plans for the Statistics and Modeling Task Group to develop an interagency index netting, to interact with species oriented task groups in population modeling, and to document procedures used in applying various models.
The Lake Huron Committee recommended that the Council of Lake Committees support regular updating of the Great Lakes salmonid stocking database. The committee was pleased to note that Rockport/Alpena area lake trout showed strong evidence of natural reproduction and may be on the threshold of becoming self-sustaining.
The Lake Michigan Committee resolved to keep working toward the recommendations of its technical committee with the hope that full hatchery production of lake trout would alleviate partial deviation from stocking recommendations.
The Lake Ontario Committee urged the IJC to revise the 1958-D Water Control Plan to include fish and wildlife habitat needs and public access and use needs as criteria for water level management decision making.
The Lake Superior Committee asked its technical committee to develop criteria for lake trout rehabilitation with the hope that stocking could be curbed by 1990 and that lamprey control could be intensified.

Board of Technical Experts

Joe Leach (OMNR) and Ed Mills (Cornell U) reported that their "inventory of introductions" study was progressing satisfactorily and that more than 80 introduced species had been identified to date.
Anderson's report on the value of the fishery was progressing well and, when completed, would include statements on the commercial and recreational valuation of the fishery and would contain research recommendations.

Great Lakes Fish Disease Control Committee

Reported that research by Dr. Terry Bradley (of URI) and Dr. Phil McAllister (USFWS) had reduced the time for a presumptive diagnosis of epizootic epitheliotropic disease (EED) to 48 hours. Attempts to develop a lake trout cell line continued.
Urged its member agencies to establish criteria for inspections/certifications that avoid conflict of interest problems with respect to hatchery certifications by the private sector.

Habitat Advisory Board

Submitted the final and revised documents on the Protection and Enhancement of Aquatic Habitat in the Great Lakes and on Guidelines for Artificial Reef Development in the Great Lakes.
The board was pleased to report that it had worked diligently to strengthen its ties with the International Joint Commission, particularly through Remedial Action Plan (RAP) reviews, committee membership, and a meeting with the Restoration Subcommittee.
Noted that contaminants, sediment management, and water levels were emerging issues warranting attention.

1989 Budget

                                        United States   Canada          Total
Total                                   $4,549,000      $2,387,502      $6,936,502