New York Sea Grant will Spring 2026 Charter Captains workshops with a focus on Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River fisheries, research, and safety on April 29th in Oswego and May 7th in Clayton. Credit: New York Sea Grant

Contacts: 

Stacy Furgal, New York Sea Grant Great Lakes Fisheries Specialist, E: slf85@cornell.edu, P: (315) 312-3042 

Kara Lynn Dunn, NY Sea Grant Great Lakes Publicist, E: karalynn@gisco.net, P: (315) 465-7578

Oswego/Clayton, NY, April 6, 2026 - New York's Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River fisheries, research, and safety are on the agenda for Charter Captains Workshops to be held April 29, 2026 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the McCrobie Civic Center in Oswego, New York, and May 7, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Clayton Opera House in Clayton, New York.

The U.S. Geologic Survey, State University of New York (SUNY) at Oswego, and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry are among workshop presenters.

The workshops, presented by New York Sea Grant, are free to attend; registration is not required. Captains may attend one or both workshops.

New York Sea Grant Great Lakes Fisheries and Ecosystem Health Specialist Stacy Furgal said, "New York Sea Grant has designed these Captains workshops as opportunities for the charter industry and fisheries research communities to share and gain information that helps enhance their services and stewardship of New York's Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River."

Oswego County Director of Tourism Dan Breitwig said, "Local charter captains and fishing guides are important tourism ambassadors. They can take a fishing experience from ordinary to exceptional in a single day - and every business generates thousands of dollars into the local economy each year. With these workshops and the new Oswego County Tourism Advisory Council Fishing Sub-committee, we are excited to see where this year's fishing season takes us."

Thousand Islands International Tourism Council Executive Director Corey Fram said, "There are no greater stewards of enjoying our waterways and fishery than our charter captains and fishing guides. They take great pride in taking care of their guests and the environment. I'm grateful that New York Sea Grant has arranged for this series and that our fishing professionals embrace these opportunities to meet, share ideas, and work toward creating a first-class experience for our visitors."

At each workshop, the U.S. Geological Survey will share information on Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River native fisheries and habitats. New York Sea Grant will provide information on safe boating, electronic distress signal devices, and how to select U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets.

The April 29th workshop in Oswego will also include a presentation by SUNY Oswego on alewife, salmon, and yellow perch fisheries.

Eastern Lake Ontario Salmon and Trout Association President Captain Phil Lucason, of Family Style Fishing Charters, Sterling, New York, said, "These workshops are an excellent way to kick start the open water fishing season and get up-to-date on information about the charter industry and fishery."

Captain Jeff Garnsey of Classic Island Cruises, Clayton, New York, said, "Having this collaboration by New York Sea Grant, the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and others gives stakeholders the unique opportunity to hear about important changes that may have come out over the winter to ensure that we are up-to-date for a new season on the water. And, information on the current state of our local fishery is always invaluable to anglers."


More Info: New York Sea Grant

New York Sea Grant (NYSG) is a university-based, statewide Federal-State collaboration between the State University of New York (SUNY), Cornell University, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). It is one of 34 university-based programs that connects research, extension, and education with the needs of coastal communities, environments, and economies through NOAA. 

Since 1971, NYSG has supported science-based solutions for a wide range of water-related challenges and opportunities across the state. Through NYSG’s efforts, university scientists and extension specialists help develop and transfer science and technical information to educational institutions, businesses, agencies, and industries; federal, state and local governments; the media; and the interested public. The program is administratively based at Stony Brook University (SBU) and Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS). 

NYSG historically leverages on average a 5.5-fold return on each invested federal dollar, annually. The State benefits from this, as these resources are invested in Sea Grant staff and their work in communities right here in New York.

New York Sea Grant, one of the largest of the state Sea Grant programs, maintains Great Lakes offices at Cornell University, SUNY Buffalo, Rochester Institute of Technology, SUNY Oswego, the Wayne County Cooperative Extension office in Newark, and in Watertown. In the State's marine waters, NYSG has offices at Stony Brook University and with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County on Long Island, in Queens, at Brooklyn College, with Cornell Cooperative Extension in NYC, in Bronx, with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County in Kingston, and with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Westchester County in Elmsford.

Established in 1966, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s National Sea Grant College Program promotes the informed stewardship of coastal resources in 34 joint federal/state university-based programs in every U.S. coastal state (marine and Great Lakes) and Puerto Rico. The Sea Grant model has also inspired similar projects in the Pacific region, Korea and Indonesia.

For updates on Sea Grant activities: www.nyseagrant.org, follow us on social media (Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, Bluesky, LinkedIn, and YouTube). NYSG offers a free e-list sign up via www.nyseagrant.org/nycoastlines for its flagship publication, NY Coastlines/Currents, which it publishes quarterly.