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 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.

The role of the Cooperative Science and Monitoring Initiative (CSMI) is to direct enhanced monitoring and research activities across each of the Laurentian Great Lakes to provide relevant information to address the science priorities of each Lake Partnership (established under the Lakewide Management Annex of the 2012 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement). CSMI is an intensive effort to collect information on the health of one Great Lake each year, cycling through the lakes on a five-year period. In 2020/2021, it was Lake Michigan’s turn (over a two-year period due to COVID). This is an executive summary of the 2020/2021 research results and the associated white paper containing more specific information.

This document summarizes work completed by Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG) during the summer and fall of 2023 in support of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA) Annex 2 Lake Michigan Partnership. Specifically, IISG is supporting the Lake Michigan Partnership’s activities to determine science priorities for the Cooperative Science and Monitoring Initiative (CSMI) 2025 Field Year on Lake Michigan. The work described herein was sponsored by the International Joint Commission and comprised a 2-day in-person workshop plus a follow-up, online survey. Information contained in this report is intended as guidance only. While it is primarily written to help the Lake Michigan Partnership as the group sets research priorities for the 2025 intensive field year, other researchers and entities studying Lake Michigan might find the document useful.

This is the twelfth in a series of consumer guides that describe fish and shellfish farmed in the Midwest region of the United States. (See Hybrid Striped Bass Farmed Fish Fact Sheet,  Freshwater Prawn Farmed Fish Fact Sheet, Largemouth Bass Farmed Fish Fact Sheet, Atlantic Salmon Farmed Fish Fact Sheet, Walleye Farmed Fish Fact Sheet, Yellow Perch Farmed Fish Fact Sheet, Tilapia Farmed Fish Fact Sheet, Rainbow Trout Farmed Fished Fact Sheet, Pacific White Shrimp Farmed Fish Fact Sheet,  American Paddlefish Farmed Fish Fact Sheet, and Channel Catfish Farmed Fish Fact Sheet). The fact sheet also includes culinary characteristics, cooking tips and a recipe for Bluegill Chowder.

References:

1. Pam Fuller, and Matt Cannister, 2023, Lepomis macrochirus Rafinesque, 1819: U.S. Geological Survey, Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL, https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/factsheet.aspx?SpeciesID=385, Revision Date: 6/27/2019, Peer Review Date: 4/12/2013, Access Date: 6/17/2023. 
2. National Audubon Society. 2002. National Audubon Society Field Guide to Fishes. Chanticleer
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3. Wang, D.H., Jackson, J.R., Twining, C., Rudstam, L.G., Zollweg-Horan, E., Kraft, C., Lawrence, P., Kothapalli, K., Wang, Z., Brenna. J.T. Saturated Branched Chain, Normal Odd-Carbon-Numbered, and n-3 (Omega-3) Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Freshwater Fish in the Northeastern United States. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2016; 64 (40): 7512-7519. DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.6b03491.
4. Williams, M.C.W., Murphy, E.W., McCarty, H.B., Snyder, B.D., Schrank, C., McCann, P.J., Crimmins, B.S. Variation in the essential fatty acid EPA and DHA in fillets of fish from the Great Lakes region. Journal of Great Lakes Research. 2017; 43(3): 150-160. DOI:10.1016/j.jglr.2017.03.001.
5. Sackett, D. K., Cope, W. G., Rice, J. A., & Aday, D. D. The Influence of Fish Length on Tissue Mercury Dynamics: Implications for Natural Resource Management and Human Health Risk. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2013. 10(2), 638-659. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph10020638.
6. Stevens, A.L., Baird, I,G., McIntryre, P.B. Differences in Mercury Exposure among Wisconsin Anglers Arising from Fish Consumption Preferences and Advisory Awareness. Fisheries Magazine. 2017. DOI: 10.1002/fsh.10013.
7. Ikem, A., Egilla, J. Trace element content of fish feed and bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) from aquaculture and wild source in Missouri. Food Chemistry. 2008. 110(2): 301-309. DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2008.02.003.
8. Health advisory and guidelines for eating fish from Silverwood Lake (San Bernardino County). 2013. California Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment.

This toolkit is a curated collection of information and resources focused on seafood for educators interested in supplementing existing programs. Topics covered in this publication include the health benefits of eating seafood, recommendations for including seafood as part of healthy eating patterns, sourcing, and seafood safety. In addition to information about nutrition and safety, there are sections on cooking methods, recipes, and social media that can be used for planning your next cooking demonstration and educating and inspiring clients.