Amy Schrank

Extension Program Leader (2023); Fisheries and Aquaculture Extension Educator
Amy Schrank smiling with arms crossed wearing a blue shirt

News

Amy Schrank named new MNSG Extension Program Leader (2023)

Biography

I am an aquatic ecologist with more than 20 years of experience teaching and conducting research in Great Lakes ecosystems, with a focus on fish communities. My research interests include fish movement patterns, stream and lake fish ecology, the effects of dam removal on fishes, and how invasive plants impact fish communities in lake ecosystems. In my outreach and extension work I collaborate with fisheries and aquaculture researchers, managers, industry groups, and local communities to provide research support and water science data and information to meet community needs. 

Education

Ph.D. - Zoology and Physiology
University of Wyoming

M.S. - Resource Ecology and Management: Aquatic Ecology
University of Michigan

B.S. - Biology and Spanish
University of Michigan

Outreach Projects

Sea Grant's shipboard science workshops are part of the Center for Great Lakes Literacy and help transform teachers into motivated Great Lakes educators.

The Great Lakes Aquaculture Collaborative (GLAC) is a project to create a regionwide group to foster relevant, science-based initiatives that support aquaculture industries. Image credit: ©Damian Horațiu Sultănoiu. stock.adobe.com

Winter Dynamics of Invertebrates in Trout Streams of Minnesota and Wisconsin: How Can the Public Connect with and Contribute to Research?

The Minnesota Sea Grant fisheries and aquaculture supply chain project team seeks to identify viable scenarios for the effective processing and distribution of commercial fish and aquaculture products in Minnesota. 

The Aquaculture Market Study is a three-year (2020-2023), $250,000 project led by the University of Minnesota Sea Grant program that was created to determine the potential for a sustainable food-fish aquaculture industry in Minnesota.

The goal of this project is to determine if small-scale removal of invasive, hybrid cattails can improve abundance and diversity of plants and fish on Minnesota lakeshores.

FreshFishFinder.org was developed to meet a need to directly connect fish producers with consumers after the disruption of traditional markets during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The University of Minnesota Sea Grant program and partners are investigating new strategies for producing Golden Shiner fish for Minnesota’s bait industry.

Fish is recognized as a healthy source of protein, beneficial fats, and micronutrients leading the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to recommend that adults eat fish up to three times a week. Americans, however, are eating roughly half the recommended amount of seafood. This deficit could be filled by sustainable aquaculture production, reducing our dependence on dwindling wild fisheries.

Upcoming Events

Featured Stories

Our three-part March Extension Column highlights Minnesota Sea Grant's annual fisheries and aquaculture student award, project presentations and updates.

Image credit: ©kremldepall - stock.adobe.com

News Releases

The Wisconsin Aquaculture Association and the Minnesota Aquaculture Association will host the

Staff from Minnesota Sea Grant Fisheries and Aquaculture Program will be presenting recent and ongoing projects that addres