Our friends at Lake Superior State University have an open posting for an Assistant Professor of Aquaculture! Come for the state-of-the-art hatchery facility, stay for the chance to work in beautiful Sault Ste. Marie: buff.ly/RwewNHI #GreatLakesJobs

Our friends at Lake Superior State University have an open posting for an Assistant Professor of Aquaculture! Come for the state-of-the-art hatchery facility, stay for the chance to work in beautiful Sault Ste. Marie: buff.ly/RwewNHI #GreatLakesJobs

We're suckers for good piping plover news!

✨ Holiday hopes from all of us at Michigan Sea Grant ✨

Did you know? Five lamprey species are found in the Great Lakes -- but only one is invasive! Learn about these ancient jawless fish:

Are you a fan of the St. Clair/Detroit River region? Come learn and share at the SCDRS annual general meeting, which offers a variety of in-person and hybrid ways to participate: buff.ly/ypAuqww Presentations and conversations will highlight lake sturgeon, reef restoration, microplastics, and more.

Our friends at the Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research (CIGLR) are recruiting for their summer undergrad/grad student fellowship program! Apply to work on amazing Great Lakes research projects: buff.ly/CXVyqHN

We shipped bookstore items all over the country in 2025! States marked in green are all home to excellent new educational resources and Great Lakes gear -- states marked in blue, 2026 is your year 😉

Today is the last day to register to IAGLR/SCAS 2026!! iaglr.org/iaglr-scas26/

Two fabulous river groups need volunteers for stonefly searches in January! Stoneflies are important bugs that tell us a lot about the health of Michigan rivers. These volunteer events are great outdoor winter activities for individuals and groups. Join one (or both!):

Grab that last-minute Christmas gift for the Great Lakes fan in your life! Our online store closes for the holiday break at *5 pm* tonight, so get your orders in now to ensure they ship by Christmas. And remember to use promo code HOLIDAY20 to get 20% off your order! miseagrant.com

Educators, unlock the potential of Great Lakes education with the latest Center for Great Lakes Literacy newsletter! Explore opportunities like vessel-based learning, an aquaculture competition, and classroom-ready resources on maritime heritage, algal blooms, and invasive species: buff.ly/uJlXKwe

Did a Michigan Sea Grant training or program make a lasting impact? Did a staff member leave a positive impression? Did Michigan Sea Grant help advance your research or education goals? Let us know through this quick feedback survey! buff.ly/Cek9qmi (1/2)

The Invasive Crayfish Collaborative is closing out 2025 with a webinar tomorrow (Wednesday Dec. 17) at 10 AM CT from Dr. Chris Taylor (@prairieresearch.bsky.social). Learn about all things Midwest crayfishes (sorry Chappell fans, no princesses here) by registering: invasivecrayfish.org/events1/

Student teams in 6-12th grade can register now for the Great Lakes Aquaculture Challenge! This fun STEM competition encourages kids to design and build aquaponics systems right in the classroom. Informal Q&A sessions for new and returning coaches on Dec. 19 and Jan 8:

ICYMI: December Upwellings is here! We've got oil-sniffing dogs, holiday dinner tips, marina champions, fresh student internships, and more: buff.ly/AKr5ace

Yoopers, have you ever danced with Heikki Lunta? Fun wintery throwback from @atlasobscura.com: buff.ly/KA98mRV

Check out #CIGLR's new blog post: Lake-effect snow is dramatic, but hard to predict. A recent study by #CIGLR’s @abbathehut.bsky.social w/ @NOAA @UMich & @UofIllinois explores how snowflakes grow in these storms & why models often struggle: ciglr.seas.umich.edu/big-lakes-bi... #GreatLakes

ICYMI: Elliot Nelson, Michigan Sea Grant's resident bird-whisperer, shares his tips for spotting snowy owls this winter (plus reminders for good owl-watching etiquette):

Undergrads, apply for our Summer '26 internships! We fund students doing Great Lakes stewardship/research projects with businesses, nonprofits, and agencies around Michigan. Design your own project or apply for one submitted by potential sponsors! Applications due January 31: buff.ly/fqdi4fI

Could aquaculture be an untapped opportunity to strengthen community resilience and MI's blue economy? buff.ly/U1jC5Ou Aquaculture facilities raise seafood for stocking, food, aquariums, bait, and fee-fishing. State and federal hatcheries also raise fish for conservation/recreation stocking. (1/2)

Back in the 1960s, 18 American bluegill got a royal welcome in Japan -- and became the center of an ecological catastrophe. Great reporting from Interlochen Public Radio's Points North team (including an interview with our own @helloellower.bsky.social !)

Our Extension crew had a blast with Alcona students at their fall harvest celebration! Alcona FFA students worked with us to host a Mi Fresh Fish table featuring aquaculture producers like Cedarbrook Trout Farm. Students used the VR headset to take a 3D tour of Cedarbrook's facilities.

December Upwellings is here! We've got oil-sniffing dogs, holiday dinner tips, marina champions, fresh student internships, and more: buff.ly/AKr5ace

Next April, join us at the Indigenous Food Sovereignty Summit! This powerful gathering celebrates Indigenous food systems, cultural resilience, and community-driven solutions for food sovereignty (1/2) buff.ly/23rIavB

Did a Michigan Sea Grant training or program make a lasting impact? Did a staff member leave a positive impression? Did Michigan Sea Grant help advance your research or education goals? Let us know through this quick feedback survey! buff.ly/Cek9qmi (1/2)

Join the #GLANSIS team in Winnipeg next year at the joint #IAGLR & #SCAS-SCSA conference!

Despite being surrounded by the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth, Michigan imports the vast majority of its seafood. Could Michigan's small and carefully regulated aquaculture industry be key to cultivating a sustainable future for Great Lakes fisheries? buff.ly/Fsb21Xj

#FoodieFriday As per Michigan Sea Grant holiday tradition, here's our favorite cookie recipe -- and decorating tips from a baking maven -- to help you "catch" the festive spirit:

The #GLANSIS team will be chairing Session 19: Invasive Species Research and Communication! Submit your abstract soon and come join us in Winnipeg!

Need a fresh hit of Elliot Nelson's enthusiasm for birds? Tune into his virtual coffee-hour talk on Dec. 10 about rare birds that have been spotted in Michigan, hosted by the Kellogg Biological Station and the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary: buff.ly/ML1udBH

✨ Holiday hopes from all of us at Michigan Sea Grant ✨

✨ Holiday hopes from all of us at Michigan Sea Grant ✨

"This reef restoration is a step toward bringing good habitat back—for the fish, and for the people of this community who are proud to see their Bay thrive again..." A new rock mound in Saginaw Bay is giving fish a safe place to lay eggs. We're proud to be part of this great project!

What’s being done to keep whitefish from disappearing? Why do chefs at a restaurant in our region forage for your food? And how did the Erie Canal shape the world we live in? Find out in our latest episode: youtu.be/cDasyGwwVMM

Great Lakes ice is thought to block evaporation. A new study says weather plays a bigger role. Study challenges assumption that ice cover leads to reduced evaporation #GreatLakes www.wpr.org/news/great-l... agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

Outside, it's December. Inside, we're still day-dreaming about Saginaw Bay 4-H Fish Camp...

Teachers, get a crash course in harmful algal blooms -- and tools to bring your new knowledge into the classroom -- with a FREE, self-paced learning module from CGLL: buff.ly/qkb3OXe

Revitalizing Ox Creek could prove life-changing for the surrounding communities through development of jobs, housing, and economic vitality. A new plan captures the trajectory of upcoming work and commitments:

#FoodieFriday From kudzu to feral pigs, catfish to insects, @invder.bsky.social at Virginia Tech has tried 'em all, thanks to his annual class potluck featuring recipes made with invasive species. Which local invasive species would you cook up? buff.ly/T4edG69 @vt-invasivespecies.bsky.social

Today, as always, we're thankful for the Great Lakes and all the incredible people who care for them

The Michigan Clean Marina program recently welcomed four new certified marinas and seven recertifying marinas! Learn how this impactful voluntary program encourages marinas to take steps that improve water quality at their facilities: buff.ly/G4fXKwv

Oil-detecting dogs and battery-powered ships: dive into HazMaTON’s webinar collection for excellent presentations about hazardous material transport, oil spill clean-up, mapping projects, and more: buff.ly/5Awf7x6 @mnseagrant.bsky.social

Thanks @michiganegle.bsky.social for spreading the word! The MiCorps Annual Volunteer Lake and Stream Monitoring Conference will be online, for free, on December 5. All are welcome! content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MID...

Woohoo, we know her!

New poster alert! We just released "Lampreys of the Great Lakes" with the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, available now in our store. And now is the perfect time to order with our holiday discount (**get 20% off your order with promo code HOLIDAY20 through December 18**)! buff.ly/PLDvGnK

Find a perfect holiday gift for the Great Lakes fan in your life with our online store! www.miseagrant.com ** Get 20% off your order with promo code HOLIDAY20 ** Order by Dec. 18 to ship by Christmas. Your purchase helps us continue producing high-quality educational materials for youth and adults.

#FoodieFriday Did you know that 90% of the seafood we eat in the United States is imported from other countries? The next time you look for fish at the grocery store, market, or restaurant, choose Mi Fresh Fish raised or caught right here in Michigan! (1/2)

And don't forget the 1941 classic Paddle-to-the-Sea by Holling Clancy Holling, a beautifully illustrated book for youth and adults alike, which also manages to teach a heck of a lot of Great Lakes geography. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paddle-...

Need a fresh hit of Elliot Nelson's enthusiasm for birds? Tune into his virtual coffee-hour talk on Dec. 10 about rare birds that have been spotted in Michigan, hosted by the Kellogg Biological Station and the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary: buff.ly/ML1udBH