Feature Headlines

• Ocean Commission Highlights Great Lakes Resource
• Stewardship Synergy Takes off in the Calumet Region
• The Ebbs and Flows of River Restoration
• Fellowship Provides Rich Opportunities
• Asian Carp Hot Topic at Research Symposium
• IEPA Addresses Growth with Watershed Planning
• Lake and Porter Counties Turn to Smart Growth

Feature Headlines

• Wingspread Accord Ties Future Growth to Natural Resources
• U of I Ecologist Named Sea Grant Director
• Removing Dams Reconnects the River System
• An Electric Barrier to the Flow of Invasive Species
• Simulated Barrier Stops Bighead Carp
• Sparks Sails into the Sunset
• IISG to Help Improve Beach Monitoring

Feature Headlines

• Profiling Culprits in the Great Lakes
• Interim Director Steer IISG into the Future
• Experts Gather To Explore River Restoration
• Students Set Sights on Community Awareness
• Research Takes the Stage
• DNA Fingerprinting Can ID E. coli Contamination
• Funding Boosts Ideas into Action

Feature Headlines

• Predicting Urban Sprawl in Top 20 U.S. Coastal Cities
• Research in Review: New Tools for Water Quality Testing
• All Hands (and Eyes) on Deck!
• Roosevelt Students On Board the W.G. Jackson
• Exotic Species Day Camp Wins Award
• Geography Teachers on the Move at Exotics Workshop

This is an annual summary of Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant success stories.

Flip through the magazine: https://issuu.com/iiseagrant/docs/thehelm-2021

Invasive crayfish represent an ongoing threat to aquatic ecosystems in the Laurentian Great Lakes region, and one of the major pathways of introduction is through the sale of live organisms to consumers (i.e., organism-in-trade pathways). This study investigated the live trade of crayfish in the Great Lakes region through a survey of crayfish retailers to understand sale and utilization of crayfish, as well as retailer sentiments about conservation and environmental stewardship. A database of 617 retailers across eight Great Lakes states was compiled and 123 retailers were contacted for the survey. Sixteen retailers who sold crayfish through the aquarium and bait trades completed the survey. Findings revealed that retailers rely on their wholesalers for information about crayfish, signaling a critical need for increased outreach efforts directed towards these suppliers. Moreover, retailers expressed a need for clear and consistent communication regarding regulatory changes. The results underscore the importance of effective communication and education within the crayfish supply chain to mitigate the risk of future invasive crayfish introductions in the Great Lakes region.

Invasive crayfish pose a significant and ongoing threat to aquatic ecosystems in the Laurentian Great Lakes (GL) region. Coordination and communication among crayfish stakeholders are crucial for effective management. The Invasive Crayfish Collaborative (ICC) brings industry, science, and land management stakeholders together to enhance the management of invasive crayfish in the GL. To systematically guide the direction of the ICC and help facilitate the coordination of research, collaboration, and outreach, a five-year strategic plan was developed. This plan, informed by data from ICC surveys, workshops, and external feedback, outlines priority projects designed to equip stakeholders and partners with the necessary resources to effectively tackle the challenges presented by invasive crayfish. This plan plays a key role in highlighting the collective vision for crayfish management and ultimately contributes to the protection of native species and preservation of our aquatic ecosystems.

Invasive crayfish pose a substantial threat to aquatic habitats in the Great Lakes Region because of their ability to reduce habitat quality and dramatically alter aquatic food webs. Currently, efforts to prevent the introduction and spread of invasive crayfish consist largely of reducing the size of existing populations and encouraging people to refrain from releasing crayfish into new bodies of water. The ICC focuses on improving upon our collective management and outreach capabilities.

For more detailed information, visit Invasive Crayfish Collaborative

This booklet describes some of Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant’s success stories from 2017.