This statement was irresponsible and unfounded. Great Lakes Commission
policy, including our ballast management resolution in late 2000, is set
through
collective, consensus- based decisionmaking that involves 44 Commissioners
and Associate Commissioners from every Great Lakes- St. Lawrence state
and
province. Further, our communications vehicles are not, and never
have been "used" as a lobbying tool for any one member. The
Great Lakes Sport Fishing
Council statement fails to mention that that an article by the Commissioner
in question appeared in our newsletter- at my invitation- as one
half of a
point/counterpoint article written to inform and educate our
readers.
For the record, no one "uses" the Great Lakes Commission, and I'll stake
my reputation on that fact. Through the Commission's efforts, and
those of the
Commission-staffed Great Lakes Panel on Aquatic Nuisance Species, a
regional multi-sectoral consensus on ballast management is emerging that
promises to guide
development of effective, ecologically sound and economically responsible
measures. Its important that we focus on what's best for the region, and
less on
personal differences.
Michael J. Donahue, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Great Lakes Commission