Alpena Fishery Biologist James Boase talks with high school students from Monroe Public Schools. - Photo courtesy Tom Green, Monroe Public Schools

Fishery Biologist James Boase traveled to Monroe, Mich., Nov. 3, to present information about fishery research taking place in the Huron Erie Corridor (waters connecting lakes Huron and Erie).  Approximately 40 students, faculty and staff from Monroe Public Schools met at the Bolles Harbor Mathematics and Science Center and were shown a 30 minute Power Point presentation and introduced to some of the sampling gear that is used to sample various species of fish, plants, and invertebrates in the Corridor.

The Center is located on over 20 acres of both upland and wetland areas and has two ponds that are used for research purposes.  Both ponds support a number of native fish species, amphibians, aquatic insects, plants, and numerous waterfowl species.  Research and sampling techniques that the students have been employing on the ponds was compared and contrasted with those utilized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and its partners.  Throughout the presentation students were presented numerous hypothetical “problems” that biologists face during typical field studies.

Following the presentation students were provided with an opportunity to handle and test the sampling gear and ask questions about careers in the Service.  Most of the students that attend classes at the Center are juniors and seniors taking advanced classes and are interested in pursuing careers in fields of mathematics and science.  Literature about careers in the Service was provided to each of the students and the school.  The forum was an excellent opportunity to explain how the Alpena Fishery Resources Office is working with researchers from various state and federal agencies, local communities, along with private citizens in an effort to rehabilitate this region of the Great Lakes.