Sea Lamprey By: Neves D.

What is a Sea Lamprey?

A sea lamprey is a parasitic, eel like fish that is gray-blue on its back and silver white underneath.

It is from 30.48 - 50.8 inches long. And it has a tooth lined, disc shaped

mouth.

How did it enter the Great Lakes Region?

It entered Lake Ontario through the St. Lawrence River.

Where did it originate?

Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.

What damage is it causing to native animals and plants?

The sea lamprey sucks the blood out of certain fish like the lake trout. This reduces the population of many important affected native fish.

Economic Impacts There has been a massive invasion of the

Great Lakes since the Welland Canal opened in 1929.

The populations of lake trout and other important game and commercial fish has been drastically reduced. This affects a multi-billion dollar industry.

Efforts to reduce sea lamprey populations have been successful, allowing for successful efforts to restore lake trout.

However, sea lamprey populations are increasing again.

How to control this organism

• Male sea lampreys need to be trapped and sterilized

• And you could use lampricides to kill lamprey larvae,

BIBLIOGROPHY

http://www.iiseagrant.org/NabInvader/great_lakes.html

HOW I FEEL

I feel bad about all of the native animals

and plants that are being destroyed.