As Co-Chair of Senate Great Lakes Task Force, Peters Introduces Bipartisan Bills to Bolster Great Lakes Fishery Research and Management

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Co-Chair of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force, introduced two bipartisan bills to bolster Great Lakes fishery research and management efforts that are critical to both the Great Lakes ecosystem and Michigan's robust fishing industry.

"The Great Lakes are essential to Michigan's economy and way of life, and our fisheries play a big role in that," said Senator Peters, Co-Chair of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force. "That's why I'm proud to lead these bipartisan bills to support the folks who protect our Great Lakes ecosystem and fish populations, while boosting Michigan's robust fishing industry."

Peters introduced the Great Lakes Fisheries Research Reauthorization Act, which would reauthorize the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) Great Lakes Science Center for another five years to help ensure that they are able to continue conducting critical research that supports Great Lakes fisheries. In 2019, Peters led the effort to secure this important authorization.

Headquartered in Ann Arbor, activities carried out by the Great Lakes Science Center include:

• Conducting surveys of both native and invasive fish populations in the Great Lakes. This data helps USGS, along with tribal, state, and local partners, to develop effective strategies for protecting and managing fisheries.

• Development of reintroduction plans for culturally and ecologically significant fish populations, which are essential for the long-term health of the Great Lakes.

• Testing and development of technologies that assist in research.

Peters also introduced the Great Lakes Mass Marking Program Act which would bolster efforts to mark, or tag, hatchery-produced fish prior to their release into the Great Lakes Basin. This process helps evaluate the quantity of hatchery produced fish compared to wild fish in the Great Lakes, the effectiveness of hatchery operations, and the effectiveness of fishery management actions. Currently, fish marking activities are conducted on a limited scale using funding from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). Peters' bipartisan bill would codify the Great Lakes Mass Marking program and authorize $5 million in dedicated annual funding for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to carry out this critical program. Providing a dedicated funding stream for fish marking activities will give the program better operational certainty while enabling more GLRI funding to be used for restoration projects.

Peters has been a steadfast supporter of the Great Lakes, advocating for policies that safeguard Michigan waters, support local economies, and enhance environmental protections. Earlier this year, Peters introduced the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Act of 2025 to reauthorize and expand resources for the GLRI program, which has carried out the most significant investment ever made to restore our Great Lakes.

As Co-Chair of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force, Peters plays a key role in uniting Great Lakes Basin states to coordinate legislative initiatives, funding priorities, and oversight efforts to address the most important issues facing the Great Lakes, such as invasive species, environmental contamination, shoreline erosion, water quality, infrastructure needs, and more.

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