This was an important year for the Great Lakes Fishery Trust. Many planned initiatives were launched and/or gained momentum in 2002, including the Muskegon River Initiative, the lake sturgeon restoration initiative, and efforts to reopen both the education and habitat grant categories. It was also an important year because many of the benchmarks laid out in the strategic plan were met in 2002. The GLFT is already working on establishing new benchmarks and intends to have an updated strategic plan in 2004.

A variety of projects were funded in 2002. A book on the Muskegon River watershed, including its history and the current direction of restoration efforts, is being developed by the Muskegon River Watershed Assembly. Two new sturgeon studies will focus on lake sturgeon recruitment in the Manistee River, determine critical habitat for various life stages, and compare historical and current distribution of sturgeon to help understand how barriers limit movement by sturgeon within tributary systems. The Great Lakes Ecosystem and Fisheries Education Networking Conference, scheduled for May 2003, will bring together members of the environmental education community to talk about needs and further identify areas for targeting funding. In addition to bringing this education community together, the GLFT hopes to open its education grant category based on identified needs and priorities for funding.

In 2001, the GLFT introduced a searchable grant database to its website. For previous and current grant awards and detailed information about each grant, please see the grants section of the Web page. You may search by year, theme, grantee organization, or keyword.