GREAT LAKES FISHERY COMMISSION HONORS CAPTAIN DENNY GRINOLD FOR EXCEPTIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO PARTNERSHIPS
SAULT STE. MARIE, ON—The Great Lakes Fishery Commission today presented Captain Denny Grinold, Chair of the Committee of Advisors of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission and past president of the Michigan Charter Boat Association, with the C.D. “Buzz” Besadny Award for fostering Great Lakes partnerships. The award, which the commission presents annually, recognized Captain Grinold for his tireless commitment to protecting and enhancing Great Lakes’ resources through determined participation in, and cultivation of, partnerships between anglers, the charter boat industry, Michigan DNRE, and the Great Lakes Fishery Commission.
Mr. Grinold, foremost a charter boat captain on Lake Michigan out of Grand Haven, Michigan has made extraordinary efforts to bring a diverse group of stakeholders on the Great Lakes together to solve many of its most pressing problems, including the Asian carp issue and investigating the potential for wind energy. Captain Grinold is currently serving, by appointment from Governor Granholm, on the Michigan Great Lakes Wind Council.
“In a unique relationship with the Great Lakes, Denny spends his time on the waters of Lake Michigan observing the changes that take place every season—be it the water quality, the status of fish populations, or invasive species,” said Commissioner Bill Taylor of the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Michigan State University. “Many of us often times only get the chance to hear about the health of the Great Lakes; Denny lives it, monitors it, and enhances it!”
Captain Grinold currently serves as the Officer of State Governmental Affairs for the Michigan Charter Boat Association, is the chairman of the Lake Michigan Task Force, was representative to the Tribal Fishing Consent Decree, and has taken leadership roles in advocating uniform Great Lakes fish consumption advisories and assisted with the creation of the Sea Grant “Coast Watch Program”.
“Denny has worked on many projects over the years that facilitate the health and well-being of the Great Lakes,” Taylor continued. “He has been available when called upon by his peers, Great Lakes organizations, and the government to help solve some of our greatest ecosystem health problems. His commitment to the Great Lakes has never wavered nor has he ever backed away from the concerns for this region. He is always available to serve the Great Lakes, improving its ecological and social value.”
Captain Grinold has served on more than 20 boards and commissions since 1983. Most notably, he has been chosen as Michigan’s gubernatorial choice to serve as advisor on the U.S. Committee of Advisors to the Great Lakes Fishery Commission; he currently serves as the chair.
“The commission is very pleased to recognize Denny’s exceptional contributions and commitment to partnerships in the Great Lakes basin,” Taylor concluded. “Thanks to Denny, stakeholders around the region are working together for the healthy future of the Great Lakes fisheries resource and a higher quality of life for the citizens of the basin.”
The Great Lakes Fishery Commission is an international organization established by the United States and Canada through the 1954 Convention on Great Lakes Fisheries. The commission has the responsibility to coordinate fisheries research, control sea lampreys, and facilitate implementation of the Joint Strategic Plan for Management of Great Lakes Fisheries. For more information about the commission and its programs, visit www.glfc.org.
