Great Lakes Environmental Protection Policies from a Fisheries Perspective

Abstract

International policies in environmental protection and resources management in the Great Lakes have evolved in three fields: water quantity and quality management, fisheries management, and air pollution abatement. The general segregation of policy development ignores the complex interplay among air, water, and fisheries resources and the potential to direct wastes to selected receptors. Approaches to environmental and resources management do not deal effectively with root causes in a sufficiently broad context. Socioeconomic information is not used effectively either as yardsticks of environmental quality or as compelling arguments for remedial programs. New approaches are needed toward resources management cum environmental policy, with emphasis on participatory planning across resource sectors to optimize a diversity of long-term benefits to society. Strong political leadership is required to depolarize jurisdictional and bureaucratic empires. The International Joint Commission and Great Lakes Fishery Commission should collaborate to help in identification of issues and root causes, to encourage strategic planning with resource sector and public participation, and to take a broad overview of societal goals and public policy in relation to recognized finite capacity of the Great Lakes ecosystem to maintain quality of life as a long-term premise.Key words: ecosystems, resource management, fisheries management, environmental legislation, international cooperation, international agreements, sociological aspects