| ALINK="#ff0000">
News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 13, 1999
NEW RESEARCH VESSEL SLATED FOR LAKE ERIE
SANDUSKY, OHIO - Lake Erie researchers will have a new research vessel when they begin fisheries assessment projects this spring. The Ohio Division of Wildlife recently took possession of the newly built, 53-foot Explorer, which will be used to collect information in monitoring fisheries resources of Lake Erie.
Division staff from the Sandusky Fisheries Research Unit piloted the vessel on a 535-mile-maiden voyage from Escanaba, Michigan to the boat's new homeport at the research unit in Sandusky last month. It replaces an older, smaller Explorer, which was in service at the research unit for two decades.
"The larger vessel will allow us to expand our research program beyond traditional fisheries surveys," said Gary Isbell, administrator for the Division of Wildlife's fisheries management section. "Some of the expanded areas of research will include needed studies on aquatic nuisance species, food chain changes, and water quality. We also hope to become more involved with local academic institutions and agencies that do not have access to research vessel facilities. In this way we can increase our understanding of the Lake Erie ecosystem."
The new Explorer is 53 feet, 9 inches long and 16 feet wide. The welded aluminum vessel will be a floating laboratory complete with onboard laboratory and computer equipment and modern hydraulic equipment for deploying and lifting a variety of sampling gear, which the previous boat did not have.
Seven alternating crew members traveled to Escanaba to perform sea trials, then brought the boat on the six-day journey home traveling across Lake Michigan, the Straights of Mackinac, Lake Huron, through the St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair, the Detroit River, and across Lake Erie to Sandusky Bay. The boat will get some final modifications before officially being unveiled during a dedication ceremony in the spring.
The Division is negotiating an agreement to transfer the previous Explorer to The Ohio State University, Stone Laboratory, where it will used for educational field trips.
The Division employs another vessel for fisheries projects conducted on the lake's Central Basin. The 47-foot Grandon has been stationed at the Division's fisheries research facility at Fairport since 1990.
-30-
For Further Information Contact:
Mike Costello, Division of Wildlife
(614) 265-6349
|