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Feature Article
Sea Lampreys
| There are not many things that are worse for true Trout and Salmon anglers then to catch a large fish from Lake Erie or Ontario and have it's body ruined from the attack of a Lamprey eel. In the 1940's and 1950's the Lamprey population increased so dramatically that the annual harvest of Lake Trout from Lakes Huron and Superior dropped from around 15 million pounds to around 300,000 pounds in the 1960's. |  |
 | Lampreys are considered a parasitic pest in the Great Lakes. They attach themselves to larger fish species with their mouth and teeth which act like a suction cup. They use their tongue to cut through the scales and skin of the fish like a rasp in order to feed on the blood and fluids. In most cases, only 1 out of every 7 fish attacked will survive. Their teeth are horn shaped and surround their tongue while their mouth lacks a jaw bone. The rest of their body is cartilage with no bones, no scales, no paired fins, no lateral line, and no swim bladder. These traits set them apart from most other fish species. Adult Lampreys reach lengths of around 18". |
| The first sighting of Sea Lampreys in the Great Lakes was in the early 1800's when they were found in Lake Ontario. It is believed that they were brought in from the Atlantic Ocean via the man-made shipping ports. At that time Niagara Falls stopped them from spreading to the rest of the Great Lakes, however, in the early 1900's when the Welland Canal was constructed that barrier was broken and the Lampreys migrated throughout all the Great Lakes. |
The control of Lampreys is overseen by The Great Lakes Fishery Commission in cooperation with The US Fish and Wildlife Service. Lampricide is the main method used in controlling them now. This chemical kills the larvae of Lampreys in the streams and has no adverse effects on any other fish species, plant life or animals and is non-toxic to humans. The chemical is called TFM and is registered with the EPA and Health Canada. Another method of control that has been put in place is the construction of barriers to block the upstream migration of Lampreys when they spawn.
Control methods that have been put in place have been very successful having resulted in almost a 90% reduction of Lampreys in most areas. Although it would be impossible to completely eliminate them from the Great Lakes, populations can be kept at a level that will lessen the impact they have.
