Funding for research into new ways to control the sea lamprey, the invasive vacuum cleaner of the Great Lakes, is at risk. The development is raising concerns from locals and observers.
What is going on?
Wisconsin Public Radio reported on how threatened funding and potential new found resilience could lead to a comeback for the prolific fish killer. The invasive lamprey uses a powerful suction mouth to attach itself to fish, employ its 100 dented teeth, and then kills them at a ruthless rate of six out of seven.
“They’re something out of a horror movie,” reporter Katie Thornton told WPR. While the lamprey spares humans from its wrath, its presence can destroy native fish such as lake trout and whitefish.
This is what happened from 1944-1954, when the commercial trout harvest of Lake Michigan declined by 98%. The government responded by forming the non-profit Great Lakes Fisheries Commission in the 1950s.
This organization discovered a chemical that specifically targeted lampreys, leading to a resurgence of native fish populations. From there, it was smooth sailing until the COVID-19 pandemic and, more recently, cutbacks from the Department of Governmental Efficiency impacted treatment.
While that funding and staff have been restored, there are signs of concern that the lamprey may be developing an immunity to the pesticide. That alarm is reinforced by the Trump administration’s proposed 79% cut to the Great Lakes Science Center, a major player in research into alternative treatments.
Why are potential cuttings important in lamprey research?
Left untreated, the invasive sea lamprey is a full-blown threat. During COVID, Thornton revealed that one lake exploded with a tenfold increase in lampreys in just one year. This spells certain doom for the fish that are both food and livelihood for many Midwesterners.
While the threat has been neutralized for some time with effective pesticide and treatment, relying on those laurels is a dangerous proposition. The invader is lethal and can make an impact incredibly quickly. Being caught flat-faced would be devastating to the local fish population.
Thornton revealed that the process to identify the chemical that controls the lamprey took more than five years and 5,000 attempts, which shows the dangers of waiting.
What is being done about a potential cut in lamprey research?
Thornton suggested to WPR that even in a region of Michigan that is generally pro-Trump, there was widespread support for preserving research funding. The locals remember the damage the sea lamprey can do to the fish population and are not keen on taking their chances.
While funding remains in the balance, scientists are working on alternative pathways to control invasive species.
These involve a lot of advanced technology, such as electric dams that keep the lampreys out through transmitted electric currents. Artificial intelligence is another option to detect fish and block them from entering unwanted waters.
A different approach includes using the scent of dead lampreys to control their movements. Another undertaking includes the introduction of sterile males into the population.
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