Program Milestones

1963

University of Minnesota professor Athelstan Spilhaus proposes the U.S. Sea Grant college concept

1966

National Sea Grant College Program funded by federal government

1975

Minnesota Marine Advisory Service established on Duluth campus with a budget of $35,000

1976

First issue of the Seiche newsletter distributed

The Edge of the Arrowhead published

1977

Lloyd Smith is named as Minnesota Sea Grant’s first director.

The University of Minnesota Sea Grant Program is established and funds four fisheries research projects

1978

Lloyd Smith dies.

1979

Director’s office founded on the St. Paul Campus

10 traineeships (graduate research fellowships) made available on 8 projects

1980

Donald McNaught is named Minnesota Sea Grant Director until 1991

1981

Institutional status awarded

Hypothermia suit research stimulates production of three products, grossing $1 million for Stearns Inc., a manufacturer of suits and floatation devices

Sea Camps draw about 400 children to week-long sessions

American Indians in Marine Science (AIMS) program begins

1982

Hypothemia Causes, Effects, and Prevention published

1983

Lawrence the Lake Trout retires

Researchers discover a way to freeze fish sperm without damaging viability, greatly aiding aquaculture operations and hatcheries

1984

Diving reflex discovery changes the way people submerged in cold water are revived

1985

College status awarded (highest award for a Sea Grant program)

Submersible takes researchers to bottom of Lake Superior for the first time

1986

First investigations conducted into the legal and economic aspects of diverting water from Lake Superior

1987

Researchers reveal that atmospheric deposition is a major cause of PCB pollution in water; results used as evidence to ban toxaphene

1988

New technique improves detection of fish virus

University of Minnesota graduates receive Knauss Marine Policy Fellowships for the first time

1989

Genetic engineering using a fish gene offers a way to correct flawed DNA

1990

Omega-3 fatty acid content of siscowet trout intrigues health experts

1991

Minnesota exporter processes and ships tons of crayfish to Sweden with Sea Grant help

Zebra Mussel Information Center (now AIS Information Center)

1994

Michael McDonald is named Minnesota Sea Grant Director until 1998

Director’s office moves to Duluth Campus

Biotechnology Risk Assessment examines Minnesota’s ability to regulate genetically modified organisms

1995

Minnesota Sea Grant goes online with information using the Gopher system

Minnesota Water Line answers phone calls until 2000

Teachers learn the multicultural and environmental histories of the region through the Gitchi Gumee Institute

1996

Biocontrol of sea lampreys show promise as researchers discover important pheromone cues

Market for Great Lakes sea lamprey in Portugal and Spain demonstrated

Exotic Species Traveling Trunks become available

1997

Weevils show potential to control Eurasian watermilfoil

Treasures Under Pressure workshop unites North Shore residents and agency personnel

1998

Water on the Web enters classrooms with real-time data from lakes

1999

Carl Richards is named Minnesota Sea Grant Director until 2005

Researchers show microorganisms facilitate the carbon cycle and make contaminants more available in Lake Superior’s food web

International conference on aquatic invasive species draws 400 scientists to Duluth

2000

30 teachers learn new aquatic science lessons through Water, Webs, and Widgets

2001

Researchers find that endocrine disrupters common in wastewater generate female traits in male fish

National discussion about managing genetically modified organisms held

2002

Fish genetics work results in Discovery Genomics, Inc., and over $5 million in grants

Northland Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials (NEMO) is established

Speaker series sparks conversations and a companion book about Lake Superior research

DuluthStreams.org launched

2003

Leech Lake Band gets help contending with Superfund Site clean-up from Sea Grant

2004

Financial administration moves from Twin Cities Campus to Duluth Campus

Responses to pheromones suggest invasive ruffe may be controlled in harbors

Guided cruises show North Shore residents coastal planning challenges

Aquarists and water gardeners begin finding Habitattitude project messages nationwide

Initiative links UMD Education Department volunteers with Great Lakes Aquarium programs

2005

Experts brought to Duluth to investigate possible causes for accelerated steel corrosion in harbor

Workshops teaches stewardship to lake property owners