Biologists Anjanette Bowen and Andrea Ania participated in the Northeast Michigan Great Lakes and Aquatic Education Networking Meeting on November 1, 2007 in Alpena. 

The meeting was organized and facilitated by Michigan Sea Grant with financial support from the Great Lakes Fishery Trust and the Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative.  Attendees included teachers, watershed groups, local and state government, the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Trout Unlimited, and the Community Foundation among others.  

The goal of this event was to provide an opportunity to learn about existing and new Great Lakes and aquatic education opportunities in northeast Michigan through place-based education. 

Bowen and Ania provided information to participants on Alpena NFWCO’s current efforts to develop two initiatives that provide an opportunity to incorporate partnerships with educators:  1) Children and Nature, and 2) National Fish Habitat Action Plan – Great Lakes Partnership. 

As a result of this meeting, a regional listserve is being established to improve regional communication between participants to enhance aquatic education efforts in northeast Michigan.  For more information on participants and presentations made at the meeting visit:  http://www.miseagrant.umich.edu/education/gl-aquatic-edu-network-PDFs.html

Service participation in the Northeast Michigan Great Lakes and Aquatic Education Networking Meeting is consistent with the Public Use and Aquatic Habitat Conservation and Management priorities of the Service’s Fisheries Program Vision for the Future.