Page 33 - Mid America Boating - January 2025 issue

Erie PrOH guide certification

program earns national award

By Alexia Vaughn, Communications Intern, “This program was created to promote Ohio’s charter
Ohio Sea Grant College Program fishing industry, the fishery, and conservation-orient-
ed best management practices,” said Tory Gabriel, Ohio
A voluntary certification course for fishing guides (“charter Sea Grant’s extension program manager. “It helps elevate
captains”) and crew members on Lake Erie led by Ohio angling businesses by creating a reputation for responsi-
Sea Grant and the Ohio Department of Natural Resource’s ble Lake Erie stewardship and allows fishing guides to act
Division of Wildlife received national recognition recently as ambassadors for sustainably fishing Lake Erie. Survey 33 [ MID-AMERICA BOATING ] JANUARY 2025
from the American Fisheries Society (AFS). data shows that 90% of Erie PrOH certified guides plan
At the organization’s annual meeting on changing business practices based
on Sept. 15, the Erie PrOH Fishing Guide on what they learned, and 97% feel they
Certification Program was recognized improved their Lake Erie literacy.”
with the 2024 Sport Fish Restoration AFS, an organization of over 8,000
Outstanding Project award in the catego- scientists, fishery managers, and educa-
ry of Recruitment, Retention, and Reac- tors, is dedicated to the promotion and
tivation (R3) and/or Angler Education. support of scientific research and sustain-
According to the AFS, the award is intend- able fishery resource management. Each
ed to “recognize excellence in fisheries year, the organization awards programs
management, research and education.” that received Sport Fish Restoration grant
Developed through a partnership funds in three Sport Fish Restoration
between the Ohio Division of Wildlife categories: Sport Fishery Development
and Ohio Sea Grant, Erie PrOH is a volun- and Management; Research and Surveys;
tary certification course that empowers and Recruitment, Retention, and Reac-
fishing guides and crew members to use tivation (R3) and/or Angler Education.
conservation-oriented best practices. The course empha- The nominees are evaluated by a committee of fisheries
sizes the importance of fishing guides as environmental administrators based on criteria such as impacts on the
stewardship ambassadors and educates guides both on public, advancement of sport fisheries management, and
sustainable angling practices and how to share this knowl- improved understanding of and support for fishery values.
edge with others. “The award is a great honor and shows that our fisher-
The self-paced online course can be taken at any time. ies colleagues across the country recognize the positive
Successful completion certifies the recipient for five impacts the Erie PrOH certification program can have on
years and grants access to curated science communica- the Lake Erie fishery, and the fishing guide businesses and
tion resources by Lake Erie professionals. A list of Erie anglers that are a part of it, to support sustainable angling
PrOH-certified guides can be found on the Ohio Sea and environmental stewardship,” Gabriel said. MAB
Grant website.

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