By John Karl

MADISON, Wis. (April 27, 2000) —  The National Sea Grant College Program has awarded the UW Sea Grant Institute $1.8 million to support the first year of its federally approved 2000-02 program.

Coupled with $1.5 million in matching funds from the State of Wisconsin and private sources, the federal grant will support more than two dozen Great Lakes-related research, outreach, and education projects involving more than 170 faculty, staff, and students at seven UW System campuses: UW-Madison; UW-Milwaukee; UW-Green Bay; UW-La Crosse; UW-Stevens Point; UW-Superior; and UW-Manitowoc.

"With these funds, Wisconsin Sea Grant is supporting top-notch scientists in the UW system who are investigating pressing Great Lakes issues," said UW Sea Grant Director Anders W. Andren.  "We’re giving special attention in this funding cycle to sustainable fisheries.  Dramatic fluctuations of lake trout in Lake Superior and yellow perch in Lake Michigan over the years show the importance of gaining a better understanding of population dynamics. We’re also renewing our emphasis on the cycling of contaminants in Great Lakes systems and expanding it to include pathogens.  We need to learn more about the sources, the biological effects, and the ultimate fate of these substances and organisms in the Great Lakes." 

Other research areas include fostering freshwater aquaculture; understanding the developmental and reproductive effects of endocrine disrupters; developing Great Lakes applications of cutting-edge biotechnology; advancing knowledge about Lake Superior’s food webs, trout populations, and local economies; enhancing safety for recreational scuba divers; and probing the complex land-water interactions that characterize coastal regions.

The grant will also support the work of eight Sea Grant Advisory Services specialists who provide free statewide assistance in aquaculture, water quality issues, geographic information systems, and recreational and commercial fishing. Other specialist services include Great Lakes-related business development and coastal engineering advice, contaminated sediment remediation technologies, and K-12 and public education programs.

For More Information:   

Anders W. Andren, Director, UW Sea Grant Institute, (608) 262-0905
Stephen Wittman, Assistant Director for Communications, (608) 263-3259
Allen H. Miller, Assistant Director for Advisory Services, (608) 262-0645
Mary Lou Reeb, Assistant Director for Education, (608) 263-0905

Conceived in 1966, Sea Grant is a national network of 30 university-based programs of research, outreach and education dedicated to the protection and sustainable use of the United States' coastal, ocean and Great Lakes resources. The National Sea Grant Network is a partnership of participating coastal states, private industry and the National Sea Grant College Program , National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration , U.S. Department of Commerce. The University of Wisconsin Sea Grant College Program is administered by the Sea Grant Institute on the UW-Madison campus in Madison, Wisconsin.

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last updated 16 June 2000

posted 28 April 2000  by Karl

http://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/communications/news_releases/2000/2000grant.html