Sea lamprey’s have been damaging the fish population since they invaded the Great Lakes during the 1920s, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will be trying to estimate how many are in the St. Clair River.
From June 8-17th, an assessment crew will be working in the St. Clair River to determine the presence of lamprey larvae. They use a combination of electrofishing and the application of a granular larvicide to estimate the abundance of the lampreys.
Adult sea lampreys attach to fish with their suction cup mouths and are responsible for killing up to 40 pounds of fish in their lifetime.
The sea lamprey control program is run by the Great Lakes Fishery Commission in partnership with several U.S. and Canadian governmental agencies. The control program work to practice environmental stewardship in its effort to control this destructive species.
Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand
