Lake Erie isn’t just Ohio’s Great Lake, it’s an economic engine for the state, with Ohio now home to one of the largest charter fishing fleets in the region. With about 945 captains, Ohio’s charter boat industry generates an estimated $14.6 million annually through fishing trips, pleasure cruises, and other excursions that encourage Ohioans and visitors alike to connect with one of the state’s greatest natural and economic assets.

By cleaning up their most degraded areas, Milwaukee, Detroit, and Buffalo have created thriving lakeshore business districts, helped people reconnect with nature, and laid the groundwork for population growth into the future. Learn more about how they’re contributing to the Great Lakes region’s “blue economy.”