Sea Lamprey Research Paper

The Sea Lamprey is a dangerous and destructive fish for the great lakes ecosystem. This species feeds on a great lake fish and needs to be put under control in order to save fish populations in the great lakes and it needs to be stopped. One of the biggest problems with Sea Lamprey is that “Sea lamprey acts as parasitic and invasive species in each new habitat. It attacks and decreases the population of native fish and disturbs the natural balance of the ecosystem”(Softschools.com). An invasive species is a plant, fungus, or animal species that is not native to a specific location (an introduced species), and which has a tendency to spread to a degree believed to cause damage to the environment, human economy or human health the sea lamprey is just one of these invasive species. The Sea lamprey has many interesting characteristics such as the sea lamprey can reach up to 12 to 20 …show more content…
The (UMESC) Scientists have developed a controlled-Release formulation of Bayluscide this is designed to kill sea lamprey in the bottom sediments where they reside without impacting other non targeted organisms. US and Canadian governments are spending $20 million per annum to execute an integrated pest management program that kills larvae of Sea Lamprey with targeted pesticides. In addition to the pesticide approach to the sea lamprey problem Barriers have been constructed to block the upstream migration of spawning sea lamprey. Most barriers allow other fish to pass with minimal disruption. The barrier option has eliminated the need for lampricide treatment in most streams. Also to combat the sea lamprey traps have been designed to catch sea lamprey as they travel upstream to spawn. Male lamprey caught in the traps are used to the sterile-male release technique, most females are used for