TOPIC:

The annual Ludington Regional Fishery Workshop addresses issues important to Lake Michigan charter captains, recreational anglers, and conservationists. This year's event will feature a broad range of topics including sea lamprey control, exotic mussels, and the balance of predators and prey fish in Lake Michigan.
The afternoon will close with a special session on cormorant control. Depredation orders allowed for lethal control of cormorants before a 2016 federal court decision struck the orders down. The afternoon session will provide historical context on the issue with an eye toward the future.
8:00 Coffee and Registration
8:45 Welcome and Michigan Sea Grant Update
Dan O'Keefe – Southwest District Extension Educator, Michigan Sea Grant
9:00 Huron-Michigan Predator Diet Study
Brian Roth – Associate Professor, Michigan State University, Department of Fisheries & Wildlife
9:15 Sea Lamprey Control Update
Scott Grunder – Supervisor, Ludington Biological Station, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
9:30 FishPass: Innovative Solutions to Selective Fish Passage on Boardman River
Mark Breederland – Southwest District Extension Educator, Michigan Sea Grant
9:45 Dreissenid Mussels in Lake Michigan: Status and Population Dynamics
Ashley Elgin – Research Benthic Ecologist, NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory
10:00 Inland Lake Management: Invasive Plants and Extension Resources for Riparians
Erick Elgin – Water Resource Educator, Michigan State University Extension
10:15 BREAK
10:25 Great Lakes Mass Marking Program
Matthew Kornis – Fishery Biologist and Data Analyst, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
10:55 Michigan Charter Fishing Reporting Program: 2018 Catch and Effort
Donna Wesander – Fisheries Technician Specialist, Michigan Department of Natural Resources
11:10 DNR Management Updates: 2019 Stocking Plan, Commercial Fishing Policy, and More
Jay Wesley – Lake Michigan Basin Coordinator, Michigan Department of Natural Resources
11:55 Lunch and LCBA Tackle Raffle
1:00 Predator-Prey Ratio: How Much Food is Available, and How Much Do Predators Eat?
Jory Jonas – Fisheries Research Biologist Specialist, Michigan Department of Natural Resources
SPECIAL SESSION – Cormorant Control
1:30 Purpose and Ground Rules
Dan O'Keefe – Extension Educator, Michigan Sea Grant
1:35 Cormorant Control in 2019: Biology and Bureaucracy at Work
Peter Payette – Executive Director, Interlochen Public Radio
2:15 Status and History of Cormorant Control in Lake Michigan
Tony Aderman – District Supervisor. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service
2:25 Cormorant Panel Discussion
2:45 Adjourn (Ludington Charter Boat Association Meeting to Follow)
West Shore Community College
3000 North Stiles Road
Scottville, MI 49454

I think they need some of your input Ed. Don't know if I can take another one of this high tech meetings. With you being older and more mature (hahaha) with many years on the water should qualify for something. Mike

Donna and I are going Mike. Want to here the latest bad or good news. Interesting that the commorants will finally be talked about. GLSI will meet the evening before this meeting. So will be staying overnight. If you or others have questions on what you might want info on, send me a pm and I'll try to get it asked.
Jory Jonas had great info last year on Cisco, really would like to hear on what she brings to the table this year.