Celebrating America’s 250th anniversary, this Great Lakes Fisheries Heritage trail story explores how fisheries have shaped Michigan and our country throughout history; and how these stories live on today through the people, fish, and fishing that connect our coastline, culture and Great Lakes identity.
Sea lamprey management in the Great Lakes is a tale of crisis, innovation, and resilience.
It is the story of fishing families who endured profound loss yet remained connected in their values and stewardship of the Great Lakes. It is also the story of scientists who pursued solutions through years of careful experimentation. And ultimately a story of an ecosystem that, with sustained effort, began to recover.
Science in action
The discovery of lampricides and the development of integrated pest management represent one of the most significant successes in invasive species control. Few environmental challenges of this scale have seen such measurable, long-term progress.
At the center of that effort stands Vern Applegate. His work at Hammond Bay Biological Station helped redefine what was possible. By combining persistence, scientific rigor, and collaboration, Applegate and his colleagues transformed the trajectory of Great Lakes fisheries.
Read the full story of Vern Applegate’s quest for a solution online.
Today, sea lamprey control remains an ongoing responsibility. The system requires continued monitoring, treatment, and cooperation across jurisdictions. The challenge has not disappeared but it is being met.
Visitors can explore this story across the Great Lakes Fisheries Heritage Trail through historic sites, interpretive centers, and educational exhibits. At Hammond Bay Biological Station itself, the legacy of this work continues, connecting past innovation with present-day stewardship.
The Great Lakes are healthier today because of these efforts. And the lessons learned—about science, persistence, and shared responsibility—remain just as important as the fish that once again swim their waters.
More stories online
Michigan Sea Grant and Michigan State University Extension, in partnership with America250MI and the Great Lakes Fisheries Heritage Trail (GLFHT) network, offer this Great Lakes fisheries history and heritage storytelling series celebrating Michigan’s commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary. Follow these stories exploring Michigan’s Great Lakes fisheries heritage online at the Great Lakes Fisheries Heritage Trail website.
Additional resources
Explore to learn more about Great Lakes fisheries:
- Life of the Lakes: A Guide to the Great Lakes Fishery — produced by Michigan Sea Grant with University of Michigan Press.
- “Small Fry, Big Catches: The Great Lakes Fishery” — a Michigan History Magazine article published by the Historical Society of Michigan in partnership with Michigan Sea Grant.
- The Fish Thief: A Great Lakes Mystery — Full-length award-winning historical documentary about Great Lakes fisheries; funding production by the Great Lakes Fishery Commission (free viewing online).
- Learn more about America250MI: america250mi.org
The following worked together to bring you this learning series as part of Michigan’s America250 commemoration: Great Lakes Fisheries Heritage Trail network, Michigan Sea Grant and Michigan State University Extension, Great Lakes Fishery Commission, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan, Fishtown Preservation Society, and others. This series has been made possible in whole or in part by America250MI.
