Michigan Maritime Museum Lecture Series

Upcoming lecture on historic commercial fishing in the years surrounding WWII

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The Michigan Maritime Museum will be hosting speaker Tom Goniea, a biologist with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Division to present his research on historical commercial fishing in the years surrounding WWII. His presentation: "Historical Great Lake Fisheries: Commercial Fishing in the Early and Mid-20th Century" will be held Wednesday, February 21st from 6:30–7:30 p.m. at the Museum.

The middle of the 20th century was an interesting and defining time in Great Lakes Management.   Native species were in severe decline or extirpated completely from parts of the Great Lakes while invasive species were playing an increasingly devastating role.  Technological advancements had greatly increased the efficiency of an over capitalized and severely under regulated commercial fishery.  For the first time the public had mechanical access to the Great Lakes.  The post war economic boom brought prosperity and leisure to the masses.  Together these forces moved Great Lakes Management from one centered around commercial fishing to one that primarily emphasized recreational pursuit.  Discussed will be the period from the 1930s to the 1960s that brought about this shift and laid the ground work for the modern fishery known today.

Tom Goniea was born and raised in Michigan. He received his Bachelors Degree from Michigan State University and a Master of Science in 2002 from the University of Idaho. Since that time, he has spent the last 15 years working as a fish biologist with the Michigan DNR. Continued areas of involvement include the Commercial Fishing Program, Scientific Collector's Permit Program, Reptile and Amphibian Representative, and Fishing Tournament Liaison.

The Michigan Maritime Museum Lecture Series will run once a month through April and will center around WWII maritime topics. The lectures will all be located at the Museum inside their newest WWII themed exhibit that opened last April.  "We're very excited about this lecture series," said Museum Director of Education and Administration Ashley Deming. "We have had a wonderful response so far from the public and we hope people will continue to come out to the presentations to celebrate and remember The Greatest Generation right here on the homefront."

Admission is $8, $7 for seniors.  There is no admission fee for Museum members. Tickets will include admission to the Museum's newest exhibit, Lake Michigan's Call to Duty. For more information, contact the Museum at 269-637-8078 or visit www.michiganmaritimemuseum.org/events/.