Environment & Climate Change

In Warm Water: Fish & the Changing Great Lakes

0000017b-35e5-df5e-a97b-35edaf120000The Great Lakes are changing. Warming air and water, shorter winters with less snow and ice and more extreme weather are impacting the lakes and the fish that live there. This could make it harder for native cold water fish to survive, and give invasive species an edge. In addition, harmful algal blooms are creating dead zones that are bad news for fish, and impact boaters and everyone else that enjoys being on or near the water. These changes impact both sport fishermen and the commercial fishing industry, which together contribute an estimated $5 billion to the Great Lakes economy.The Environment Report is examining this issue in a special five part series, In Warm Water: Fish & the Changing Great Lakes. You can listen to the reports on Michigan Radio (91.7 FM in Southeast Michigan, 104.1 FM in West Michigan, 91.1 FM in Flint) Monday, Sept. 30 – Friday, Oct. 4 at 8:50 a.m. and 5:45 p.m. Updated reports will also be posted each day on this page. Support for this series is provided by the Great Lakes Fishery Trust. Michigan Radio is making a free audio CD of this series and the accompanying photo slide show available for educational use. To request a copy, please click here.

Join in our discussion about the changing Great Lakes

Michigan Public | By Steve Chrypinski

Published September 30, 2013 at 12:58 PM EDT

The Great Lakes are changing. Warming air and water, shorter winters with less snow and ice and more extreme weather are impacting the lakes and the fish that live there. In addition, harmful algal blooms are creating dead zones that are bad news for fish, and impact recreational users as well.

Michigan Radio will be holding a

panel discussion on the subject of the changing Great Lakes this Tuesday, Oct. 1 at 7:00 pm. Rebecca Williams from Michigan Radio's Environment Reportwill host the discussion at Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle in Royal Oak. The public is invited to join in the discussion with their questions and comments. Admission is free.

Panelists for the event will will include:
Marc Smith - Senior Policy Manager, National Wildlife Federation
Ed Rutherford - Research Fishery Biologist, NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory
Dave Spangler - Lake Erie charter boat captain / President - Lake Erie Waterkeeper

Issues & Ale: Fish & the Changing Great Lakes
Tues, Oct. 1, 7:00-8:30 pm
Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle
310 South Troy St, Royal Oak, MI 48067

This event is part of Michigan Radio's "In Warm Water: Fish & the Changing Great Lakes" series. Support for this series is provided by the Great Lakes Fishery Trust.