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Exotic Species

Sea Lamprey
Why are they a problem?

Sea lamprey prey on commercially important fish species, such as lake trout, living off of the blood and body fluids of adult fish. During its life as a parasite, each sea lamprey can kill 40 or more pounds of fish.
These organisms were a major cause of the collapse of lake trout, whitefish, and chub populations in the Great Lakes during the 1940s and 1950s.

Fast Facts

How far have they spread?

Origin: Native to Atlantic Ocean
Life span: larvae--3 to 17 years, adult--average 18 to 20 months
Size: larvae–6 in., adults–18 to 24 in.
Method of introduction: Through humanmade locks and shipping canals in the 1800s. The sea lamprey was first discovered in Lake Ontario in 1835, Lake Erie in 1921, Lake Huron in 1932, Lake Michigan in 1936, and Lake Superior in 1946. Reproducing populations were found in all of these upper lakes by 1947. The present "hot zone" is the St. Marys River. Sea lamprey produced in the St. Marys River migrate into Lake Huron and northern Lake Michigan. There, the adult sea lamprey population is nearly as large as it was 40 years ago–before sea lamprey control–when lake trout and whitefish stocks were decimated.

What are UMESC scientists doing to help?

Helicopter applying granular Bayluscide to specific hot spots in the St. Marys River. This form of lampricide is intended to kill sea lamprey larvae on the bottom of the river.
The UMESC is providing technical assistance to the Sea Lamprey Control Agents in the United States and Canada. This assistance is in the form of data to support the re-registration of the lampricides with the Environmental Protection Agency, development of treatment models to reduce the amount of chemical needed, and development of improved formulations. The UMESC scientists developed a controlled-release formulation of Bayluscide that is designed to kill sea lamprey in the bottom sediments where they reside without impacting other nontarget organisms. This new formulation is expected to reduce the populations of sea lamprey in Lakes Huron and Michigan by about 85%.

Ongoing Studies:

Lampricide registration and reregistration technical assistance to the Great Lakes Fishery Commission

Technical assistance to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and Great Lakes Fishery Commission regarding sea lamprey control in the Great Lakes Basin

November 17, 2000

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U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://www.umesc.usgs.gov/exotic_species/sea_lamprey/sl-fastfacts.html
Page Contact Information: Contacting the Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center
Page Last Modified: October 2, 2007

Sea Lamprey		Why are they a problem?
		Sea lamprey prey on commercially important fish species, such as lake trout, living off of the blood and body fluids of adult fish. During its life as a parasite, each sea lamprey can kill 40 or more pounds of fish. These organisms were a major cause of the collapse of lake trout, whitefish, and chub populations in the Great Lakes during the 1940s and 1950s.

Fast Facts		How far have they spread?
Origin: Native to Atlantic Ocean Life span: larvae--3 to 17 years, adult--average 18 to 20 months Size: larvae–6 in., adults–18 to 24 in. Method of introduction: Through humanmade locks and shipping canals in the 1800s.		The sea lamprey was first discovered in Lake Ontario in 1835, Lake Erie in 1921, Lake Huron in 1932, Lake Michigan in 1936, and Lake Superior in 1946. Reproducing populations were found in all of these upper lakes by 1947. The present "hot zone" is the St. Marys River. Sea lamprey produced in the St. Marys River migrate into Lake Huron and northern Lake Michigan. There, the adult sea lamprey population is nearly as large as it was 40 years ago–before sea lamprey control–when lake trout and whitefish stocks were decimated.

What are UMESC scientists doing to help?
Helicopter applying granular Bayluscide to specific hot spots in the St. Marys River. This form of lampricide is intended to kill sea lamprey larvae on the bottom of the river.		The UMESC is providing technical assistance to the Sea Lamprey Control Agents in the United States and Canada. This assistance is in the form of data to support the re-registration of the lampricides with the Environmental Protection Agency, development of treatment models to reduce the amount of chemical needed, and development of improved formulations. The UMESC scientists developed a controlled-release formulation of Bayluscide that is designed to kill sea lamprey in the bottom sediments where they reside without impacting other nontarget organisms. This new formulation is expected to reduce the populations of sea lamprey in Lakes Huron and Michigan by about 85%.
Ongoing Studies: Lampricide registration and reregistration technical assistance to the Great Lakes Fishery Commission Technical assistance to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and Great Lakes Fishery Commission regarding sea lamprey control in the Great Lakes Basin