The goal of the Great Lakes Fisheries Leadership Institute is to provide the next generation of fisheries leaders for the Great Lakes region with the skills which they will need to effectively interact with fisheries management agencies and provide real leadership to the region as well as to their organizations. Objectives include:
Develop stakeholders from each Great Lakes state as Great Lakes Fishery Leaders - a cohort of leaders with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide effective leadership on fisheries management issues,
Create a network of Great Lakes leaders from the broadest possible variety of backgrounds and organizations who are able to call upon each other to effectively address and/or advocate regional needs
Empower these fishery leaders to influence policy decisions and legislative initiatives
Maximize the effective life of citizen volunteers by condensing the learning curve
Minimize frustration of both Great Lakes fisheries management agencies and those citizen leaders and who do not understand the complexities of Great Lakes fishery-related institutional arrangements, history and science.
Expose leadership from one end of the Great Lakes region to the issues and concerns of the other parts of the region.
Multiply the ability of Great Lakes Sea Grant Extension to reach constituent audiences using a 'teach-the-teacher' model.

A significant challenge in achieving a sustainable Great Lakes ecosystem and fisheries is the fact that resource users and decision makers do not have enough information to focus on the larger impact of their decisions. A key element in meeting this challenge is an educated, motivated and participating citizenry. Leadership and visionary action by our fisheries stakeholders is critical in defining the future of our Great Lakes fishery resources. Discussion with Great Lakes partner agencies including the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, USGS/BRD Great Lakes Science Center and NOAA/Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory revealed a high priority placed on the regional need for in-depth training to the next generation of leaders - i.e., those who are new leaders to their fisheries related organizations, those likely to become leaders of their organizations within the next few years, and those likely to be serving as advisors to Great Lakes fishery related institutions such as Lake Committees. These fisheries professionals note that the average citizen volunteer involved in Great Lakes fishery issues stays involved approximately five years, but that it takes two to three of those years to educate citizen volunteers in the issues, science and policy in order for them to be most effective. The proposed Great Lakes Fisheries Leadership Institute is designed to address this knowledge gap.

We envision a Great Lakes Fisheries Leadership Institute operating on a regional, lake and state level capable of providing emerging citizen fishery leaders with the knowledge and skills to effectively interact with Great Lakes fishery management organizations for the benefit of the fishery and its stakeholders. We envision this Institute as an on-going certificate program whose graduates will be widely respected and sought after as advisors on Great Lakes fishery related issues. This proposal seeks funding for operation of an initial (pilot) Great Lakes Fishery Leadership Institute which can provide the foundation for a long-term, sustained and expanded program for the Great Lakes region should appropriations for Sea Grant fisheries extension increase or should Great Lakes partners find alternative resources for its continuation.

The concept behind the Great Lakes Fishery Leadership Institute is to provide in-depth training to the 'next generation' of leaders - those who are new leaders to their fisheries related organizations, those likely to become leaders of their organizations within the next few years, and those likely to be serving as advisors to Great Lakes fishery related institutions (e.g., Lake Committees). Selection of appropriate participants is an important key to the success of the Institute program. Participants will be nominated and selected by a steering committee which will be composed of partner agencies (e.g., Great Lakes Fishery Commission, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) and current Great Lakes fishery leadership. Participants will be selected to represent a variety of organization 'types' - environmental NGOs, commercial fishermen, charter captains, tribes, sportfishing associations, visitor bureaus, science writers, legislators, legislative aides, etc. This mix of participants will help participants in the Institute to deepen their understanding of the multiple perspectives and stakeholders involved in any Great Lakes fishery management decision. Following the National Extension Leadership Development (NELD) and Master Gardener models, nominees will be required to make a specific commitment to the Great Lakes fishery as part of their application for participation in the Great Lakes Fishery Leadership Institute. Rather than requiring a certain number of hours of vaguely defined service of participants, we plan to maintain maximum flexibility while obtaining maximum service by allowing nominees to define their own commitment. For example, a science writer might commit to writing a certain number of articles in the year following participation in the Institute while an angler might commit to serving as an officer for his or her local sportfishing association. Specific commitments will be considered in final selection of participants. Participants will be charged a nominal fee for participation in the Institute to ensure commitment and aid in cost recovery.

Critical mass of participants is a key factor to the success of the Great Lakes Fishery Leadership Institute. Sixty participants overall and seven on a per lake or per state basis is considered to be the minimum needed for success. Funds sought through this proposal should be sufficient to support this minimal critical mass. Additional funding will be sought from Great Lakes partner agencies and institutions to enhance the Great Lakes Fishery Leadership Institute above these minimums.

Twenty-one participants learned more about fisheries management, Lake Erie issues, fish production and field sampling techniques at the Ohio Great Lakes Fishery Leadership Institute at Stone Laboratory, September 12-14, 2003. Almost 94% (16 of 17) of post program survey respondents strongly agreed that they will share the information learned at the workshop with others. Eighty-seven percent (14 of 16) agreed or strongly agreed that they will conduct a service project as a result of the workshop. (Hageman, Kelch, Lichtkoppler, Reutter, Snyder, and Sturtevant)

Thirty-eight participants learned more about Lake Erie fishery issues, the Great Lakes Fish Commission, and Lake Erie Fisheries management, electrofishing sampling techniques, and aquatic field sampling techniques at the Lake Erie Great Lakes Fishery Leadership Institute at Presque Isle PA, October 3 and 4 2003. Almost 75% (21 of 28) of post program survey respondents strongly agreed that they plan to share the information learned at the workshop with others. Sixty-nine percent (18 of 26) agreed or strongly agreed that they will conduct a service project as a result of the workshop. (Domske, NY; Lichtkoppler, OH; and Obert, PA)