Introduction

Research in support of the healthy Great Lakes ecosystems vision statement

Biodiversity

1. Identify and characterize anthropogenic causes of loss of species, strains, or stocks
2. Identify stocks and their level of differentiation
3. Determine stock status and biological characteristics
4. Determine the consequences of fish stocking on genetic diversity and fitness of wild fish
5. Identify and characterize human beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors related to biodiversity
6. Determine the influence of biodiversity on the level and sustainability of fish production in the Great Lakes

7. Develop prevention and control strategies for invasions and evaluate their social, economic, and biological consequences
8. Develop an understanding of established exotics with a view to their management

9. Develop innovative methods of determining the range of allowable harbest consistent with sustainable production
10. Determine the relationship between harvest and rehabilitation success
11. Determine the effects of exotics on sustainable production
12. Assess food web effects on sustainable production
13. Evaluate social, economic, and biological trade-offs between stocked and natural fish production
14. Develop techniques for identification and control of fish diseases and evaluate their social, economic, and biological consequences for sustainable production

15. Develop a system of habitat classification appropriate for determining Great Lakes ecosystem health
16. Identify species that indicate ecosystem health in terms of habitat
17. Inventory habitats deemed important to ecosystem health
18. Improve understanding of the relationship between specific habitat characteristics and the abundance of dependent species
19. Determine the relative importance of physical habitat, nutrient levels, and biotic factors as agents controlling the capacity of the Great Lakes or areas therein for fish production

20. Determine fate and transport of contaminants in the Great Lakes
21. Improve understanding of the ecological consequences of contaminant levels in the Great Lakes fishes
22. Improve understanding of social and economic consequences of contaminants

23. Develop a valuation scheme to quantify the benefits of sea lamprey control
24. Develop an optimization framework for allocation of resources among elements of the control program 8
25. Develop improved cost effectiveness of existing control practices
26. Conduct basic research on sea lamprey biology as a foundation
for development and application of new control technologies
27. Conduct research on aspects of sea lamprey biology intended to identify specific opportunities for new control strategies
28. Develop and assess new control technologies

Develop means to identify and characterize the interests of stakeholders affected by the quality and productivity of the Great Lakes Ecosystem

29. Develop meeans of determining the size and distribution of stakeholder groups
30. Develop means to measure and compare the interests, needs, and expectations of different stakeholder groups
 
Develop means to identify economic consequences of alternative allocation decisions
 
31. Develop economic criteria for the allocation of aquatic resources
32. Identify and examine means whereby stakeholders pay for benefits generated from their allocation of
aquatic resources
33. Develop the means to identify and evaluate a multi-account framework so that values are comparable across stakeholder groups
 
Develop means to identify the social consequences of alternative allocation decisions
 
34. Identify and evaluate strategies for conflict resolution relative to allocation decisions
35. Identify and evaluate mechanisms by which stakeholders receiving an allocation of aquatic resources return benefits to the ecosystem
 
Foster communication among stakeholders to achieve effective stakeholder partnerships
 
36. Develop means to assess information needs among stakeholders
37. Develop means to identify communication networks within stakeholder groups and potential networks among stakeholder groups
38. Develop and/or evaluate education and communication strategies
 
Integrate the institutional/partnership vision statement with the other vision statements during the implementation of the strategic vision
39. Include an assessment of what is technically, economically, and socially feasible to attain in any research effort to aid the implementation of the GLFC's vision

Literature Cited