Minnesota Sea Grant

Minnesota Sea Grant Bringing Superior science to Minnesotans in need of water science.

⚓ Happy World Maritime Day! 🚢Many people don't realize just how significant shipping is. If the Great Lakes-St. Lawren...
09/25/2026

⚓ Happy World Maritime Day! 🚢

Many people don't realize just how significant shipping is. If the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence region were its own country, it would be the third-largest economy in the world! At the heart of it is the Port of Duluth-Superior, the largest tonnage port on the Great Lakes, handling nearly 33 million tons of cargo a year and supporting almost 8,000 local jobs.

From tackling aging infrastructure and harbor dredging to building the next generation of the maritime workforce, Minnesota Sea Grant's Great Lakes Transportation Program works to boost public awareness and tackle the industry's biggest challenges.

Dive into our Great Lakes Transportation Program to explore the powerhouse economy in our backyard: https://z.umn.edu/mnsg_transport

Ever felt a sudden cold chill near the bottom of a lake in the summer, or spotted a patch of ice that never seems to fre...
09/24/2026

Ever felt a sudden cold chill near the bottom of a lake in the summer, or spotted a patch of ice that never seems to freeze in the winter? 🧊💧 That’s groundwater at work!

While groundwater and surface water are often treated as separate systems, they are deeply connected. Join Itasca Waters and Minnesota Sea Grant for the next installment of the Practical Water Wisdom webinar series on October 2!

Dr. Crystal Ng, an associate professor at the University of Minnesota Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, will explain how scientists detect and measure these hidden water exchanges—and why they matter for the water quality and quantity of our lakes and aquifers.

🗓️ Free and open to the public! Registration is required.

🔗 Register now: https://z.umn.edu/mnsg-pww-groundwater

📬 Postcard from the field: Uncovering Minnesota’s lake life after hours! 🔦🚤Even at night, Minnesota's lakes are getting ...
09/22/2026

📬 Postcard from the field: Uncovering Minnesota’s lake life after hours! 🔦🚤

Even at night, Minnesota's lakes are getting noisier and brighter. While we know daytime boating disrupts sport fish, little is known about how this 24/7 sensory overload affects nocturnal species like Yellow Bullhead catfish.

Supported by a Minnesota Sea Grant 2026 Fast-Track Grant, researchers Dr. Trevor Keyler and student Ethan Koehler from the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University (CSB SJU Biology Department) are out on the water after dark. By setting up underwater cameras, speakers, and lights in a quiet reference lake, they’re studying how light and noise pollution impact fish feeding habits, helping protect the lake food webs that sustain our fisheries.

📍 Learn more about the project: https://z.umn.edu/mnsg-yellow-bullhead

📷 Photo: Principal investigator Dr. Trevor Keyler and student Ethan Koehler set up field equipment, and a Yellow Bullhead research participant. Photo credit: Tom Morris.

Ready to level up your aquaculture career? Applications are officially open for the 2027 Sea Grant Aquaculture Leadershi...
09/21/2026

Ready to level up your aquaculture career? Applications are officially open for the 2027 Sea Grant Aquaculture Leadership Academy, co-hosted by Minnesota Sea Grant and Texas Sea Grant! 🌊🐟

This national professional development program is designed for early- and mid-career professionals working across freshwater and marine aquaculture, including extension, research, communication, education, and production. If you work at a Sea Grant or land grant program, federal agency, or minority-serving institution, this opportunity is for you!

The academy combines virtual training with two immersive, in-person sessions exploring Great Lakes and Gulf Coast aquaculture systems:
🐟️ May 3–6, 2027 | St. Paul & Duluth, MN
🐟️ Oct. 4–7, 2027 | Bay City, TX

Develop aquaculture leadership, extension, and communication skills while networking with experts across the nation!

Apply by Oct. 30, 2026: https://z.umn.edu/mnsg-ala-app

Ever held the key to solving Minnesota’s baitfish shortage right in the palm of your hand? 🖐️🐟Golden Shiners are in high...
09/17/2026

Ever held the key to solving Minnesota’s baitfish shortage right in the palm of your hand? 🖐️🐟

Golden Shiners are in high demand for Walleye and Pike anglers, but MN faces an annual shortage of 80,000 pounds. To help fill the gap, Minnesota Sea Grant and partners published a new guide exploring four Golden Shiner aquaculture strategies, from indoor systems to outdoor ponds.

Interested in a potential workshop to dive into system designs, feeding regimes, and lessons learned?

Fill out our contact form so we can gauge interest and send updates if a workshop is scheduled: https://z.umn.edu/mnsg-gos-interest

Crisp temps, changing leaves, and running fish: autumn angling is officially here!🍂 🎣 Whether you're hitting your favori...
09/15/2026

Crisp temps, changing leaves, and running fish: autumn angling is officially here!🍂 🎣

Whether you're hitting your favorite local spot along the to chase and salmon, or heading out to Wisconsin’s Brule River, now is the perfect time to brush up on your fish ID with a free decal from Minnesota Sea Grant.

Available to download digitally or pick up a waterproof decal for easy reference on the water.

🔗 https://z.umn.edu/MNSG-Steelhead-Salmon

It’s Septic Smart Week! 🧼💧 Did you know that what goes down your drain directly impacts the health of your septic system...
09/14/2026

It’s Septic Smart Week! 🧼💧 Did you know that what goes down your drain directly impacts the health of your septic system...and ultimately Minnesota’s lakes, rivers, and groundwater?

Harsh chemical cleaners, excess solvents, and heavy detergents can kill the beneficial bacteria in your septic tank that break down waste. To protect your system, your home, and local wildlife, keeping up with proper maintenance and inspections is essential.

Watch Minnesota Sea Grant and Itasca Waters walk through a real, detailed septic inspection in Itasca County, MN, to learn best practices and get your key maintenance questions answered: https://youtu.be/whxJ2n0ZM7M

Attention educators 📢 Now that the school year is back in session, bring hands-on science directly to your learners!Mi...
09/11/2026

Attention educators 📢 Now that the school year is back in session, bring hands-on science directly to your learners!

Minnesota Sea Grant offers 8 FREE-to-loan Education Kits designed for all grade levels! From sifting macroinvertebrates to exploring giant floor maps and tackling aquatic invasive species, these kits deliver place-based science learning that connects students to our local freshwater ecosystems. What could be more fitting for learners in the land of 10,000+ lakes?

Available kits include:
🎒 Trash Trunk (All ages): 14 lessons on marine debris & plastics recycling.
🎒 Fish-o-Pedia Pack (All ages): Food webs, fish identification cards, & plush fish models to learn all about fish.
🎒 Aquatic Invaders Attack Pack (Elem): Real animal specimens & interactive cutouts to teach about aquatic invasive species.
🎒 Stream Ecology Kit (Middle/High): Field gear for waterway health experiments.
🎒 The Watershed Game (Middle/High): Interactive land-use & flooding resilience models.
🎒 Great Lakes Basin Floor Map (All ages): A 7’x10’ map detailing the 2,212-mile water journey.
🎒 Plastic Panic Kit (Elem/Middle): Hands-on steps to follow microplastics through wastewater treatment.
🎒 cyanoScope Kit (High): Materials included to collect samples, prepare slides, and identify cyanobacteria.

Kits are free to borrow for educators who agree to complete a quick post-event feedback survey.

👉 Reserve a kit for your classroom today: https://z.umn.edu/mnsg-edu-kits

Minnesota Sea Grant and Texas Sea Grant are launching the 2027 Sea Grant Aquaculture Leadership Academy, a national prof...
09/10/2026

Minnesota Sea Grant and Texas Sea Grant are launching the 2027 Sea Grant Aquaculture Leadership Academy, a national professional development program funded by a $350,000 Sea Grant award.

The academy offers early- and mid-career aquaculture extension professionals hands-on training in both freshwater and marine systems, with two in-person sessions:
📍 May 3–6, 2027 | St. Paul & Duluth, MN
📍 Oct. 4–7, 2027 | Bay City, TX

Participants will visit working aquaculture facilities, engage directly with producers, and strengthen essential skills in leadership, communication, and extension work. The academy will be organized around two cohorts and is expected to serve 60 participants.

Individuals from Sea Grant extension programs, land-grant extension programs, federal agencies and minority-serving institutions are eligible to participate.

👉 Ready to grow your aquaculture career and network? Learn more and submit your application by October 30, 2026: https://z.umn.edu/mnsg-ala-dates-27

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Ever wondered about the sandy shores of Minnesota Point and how you can help keep them thriving? 🏖️Minnesota Sea Grant i...
09/04/2026

Ever wondered about the sandy shores of Minnesota Point and how you can help keep them thriving? 🏖️

Minnesota Sea Grant is proud to support the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Coastal Program and community partners for Dune Stewardship Day, a free, hands-on event where science meets the shore.

Whether you're a lifelong Duluthian, a curious visitor, or a budding naturalist, drop in to explore at your own pace! Chat one-on-one with habitat specialists, dive into quick 15-minute micro-talks at the Hub, or stretch your legs on short, expert-led walks along the dunes.

📅 When: Friday, September 11, 2026 | 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. CDT
📍 Where: Lafayette Park (3016 Minnesota Ave., Duluth, MN)

Guided walks:
• 12:30 p.m.: Dunes 101 & Sand Capture Project
• 1:30 p.m.: Dune Plant Communities
• 2:00 p.m.: What’s So Special About Dune Habitat?
• 2:30 p.m.: Shorebirds & Coastal Ecosystems
• 3:30 p.m.: Sand Dune Insects & Invasive Plants
• 4:00 p.m.: Plants, Seasons & Dune Stewardship
• 5:00 p.m.: Forested Dune Walk

The Dune Stewardship Initiative is a collaborative effort led by the Minnesota DNR’s Coastal Program, the City of Duluth, MN Government, Minnesota Sea Grant, Minnesota Point 50, and dedicated community partners and volunteers.

🔗 See the full schedule & micro-talk details: https://z.umn.edu/mnsg-dune-discovery-day

Address

31 W College Street
Duluth, MN
55812

Telephone

+12187268106

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