Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a suite of manufactured chemicals with wide applications in consumer products ranging including clothing, cookware, cosmetics, and firefighting foams, are threatening the Great Lakes and Lake Champlaign region. These chemicals and their related precursor compounds have very strong bonds that make them waterproof, oil repellent, and high temperature and stain resistant. Their chemical structure also makes them very persistent in the environment, for which they are called “forever chemicals”. To explore the socioeconomic impacts of PFAS, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG) is leading a Great Lakes and Lake Champlain regional research effort that is expected to support research to further advance the knowledge of social or economic issues related to PFAS risk, exposure, and remediation in these regions. The project advisory committee recommended a regional scoping effort to guide this effort; the purpose which was identifying and subsequentially prioritizing the knowledge gaps and potential socioeconomic barriers to PFAS efforts in the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain regions. Details of these scoping sessions are discussed in this report.

An extension factsheet to inform Indiana landowners on the best practices for stocking fish into ponds.

This document is also referred to as FNR-569 and PPP-125, and is available at https://mdc.itap.purdue.edu/item.asp?Item_Number=FNR-569.

This brochure provides tips on how to properly use, store and dispose of expired or unwanted medications. It was developed by IISG, on behalf of the National Sea Grant Office, in partnership with the American Veterinary Medical Association

The hybrid striped bass (HSB) industry is the 4th largest aquaculture industry in the United States in terms of sales value, behind catfish, salmon, and trout. HSB is a cross between a female white bass (Morone chrysops) and a male striped bass (Morone saxatilis). HSB is also known as “”sunshine bass.”” The hybridization of the white bass and the striped bass makes HSB more tolerant to extreme temperatures and dissolved oxygen than either of its parents. There is potential for growth in production in Indiana and the Midwest because of the abundance of farm ponds and private lakes. 

Structural changes in Midwest agriculture over the past two decades have resulted in a number of empty and unused farm buildings. Farmers therefore have been exploring alternative uses of livestock farm buildings for the production of other cash crops, including aquaculture products. In Indiana, Pacific White shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) production has attracted interest, and a number of small producers are investing in shrimp produc- tion in their farm buildings and other farm facilities. The producers are motivated by the fact that they could produce and market fresh (never frozen) high-quality shrimp products in these systems to compete with imported frozen shrimp.

This brochure details information about the problems caused by unwanted medicine in the home and environment, and provides helpful information for how to minimize the risks it poses.

A printer friendly alternate version is available at https://iiseagrant.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Unwanted-Meds_Brochure_Print_Friendly.pdf.