Great Lakes Fishery Commission

Grass Carp Advisory Committee

The Grass Carp Advisory Committee (GCAC) serves as a resource for signatory agencies to A Joint Strategic Plan for Management of Great Lakes Fisheries (Joint Strategic Plan), the Council of Lake Committees and the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, when considering options for surveillance and control of invasive grass carp in the Great Lakes. Control and removal efforts occur primarily in Lake Erie and its tributaries, with surveillance occurring in other Great Lakes basins. The GCAC and its specialized task groups are charged with:

  • Coordinating actions that address specific Lake Erie Committee (LEC) objectives associated with its 5-year Adaptive Management Response Strategy, including annually reporting on progress toward LEC objectives
  • Developing coordinated approaches to address critical uncertainties identified by the LEC and providing annual reports on progress of addressing uncertainties.
  • Providing recommendations about additional uncertainties that may guide LEC priorities and goals.
  • Coordinating surveillance for grass carp throughout the Great Lakes basin and providing advice to individual lake committees as appropriate.

Grass Carp Advisory Committee Terms of Reference

Co-Chairs

  • Lucas Nathan, Michigan Department of Natural Resources
  • Eric Weimer, Ohio Department of Natural Resources

Member Agencies Include:

  • Michigan Department of Natural Resources
  • Ohio Department of Natural Resources
  • Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
  • Illinois Department of Natural Resources
  • Indiana Department of Natural Resources
  • Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
  • United States Fish and Wildlife Service
  • United States Geological Survey
  • Fisheries and Oceans Canada
  • NOAA
  • Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
  • Grand Portage Band of Chippewa
  • Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority
  • New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

Partner Agencies include:

  • Michigan State University
  • University of Toledo
  • University of Buffalo
  • United States Environmental Protection Agency
  • Brenton Consulting

Updated December, 2023

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