Keith Lusher 12.23.25
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed bipartisan legislation that would reauthorize funding for Great Lakes fisheries research, sending the bill to President Donald Trump’s desk for final approval.
The Great Lakes Fisheries Research Reauthorization Act would extend funding for the U.S. Geological Survey’s Great Lakes Science Center for another five years, through fiscal year 2030. The measure passed the Senate unanimously last month and cleared the House on Dec. 15.
The bill was introduced by Gary Peters and Jon Husted and aims to provide stable, long-term support for research that underpins one of the nation’s most valuable freshwater fisheries.
“The Great Lakes Science Center helps protect the freshwater fisheries and habitats that are invaluable economic and ecological assets for Michigan and the entire Great Lakes region,” Peters said in a statement following House passage.
The Great Lakes fishery supports a commercial and recreational fishing industry valued at roughly $5.5 billion annually. Lawmakers from across the region said the research funded through the program is essential for maintaining healthy fish populations and protecting the lakes from ongoing threats.
Husted noted that fishing plays a central role in Ohio’s culture and economy, particularly on Lake Erie, where anglers pursue walleye and yellow perch. He said scientific data provided by the Great Lakes Science Center is critical to keeping those fisheries sustainable.
The Great Lakes Science Center, headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with field stations throughout the basin, including Huron, Ohio, conducts a wide range of research that directly supports fisheries management. That work includes surveys of native and invasive fish populations, monitoring harmful algal blooms, developing fish reintroduction plans, and testing new research technologies.
Invasive species remain a significant focus of the center’s efforts. During the House debate, Mike Quigley highlighted the impact of sea lampreys and other invasive species, noting that more than 60 non native species now exist in the Great Lakes.
According to Debbie Dingell, control programs developed through research and coordinated with the Great Lakes Fishery Commission have reduced invasive sea lamprey populations by more than 90 percent. She also pointed to a recent announcement that lake trout have fully rebounded in Lake Superior after decades of decline.
Supporters of the bill say reauthorizing the program will ensure that scientists, fisheries managers, and policymakers continue to have the data needed to protect the Great Lakes and the communities that depend on them.
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