The mayor of Thunder Bay, Ont., describes them as scary, unpleasant creatures.
Gale Bravener, who works for Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), says they remind him of an eel or a snake, with smooth, slimy bodies and suction cup mouths full of teeth.
Tammy Cook, chief administrative officer of the Lakeada Regional Conservation Authority (LRCA), said “they’re not very attractive” and look like they belong in a sci-fi movie.
While sea lampreys can’t speak for themselves, those at a gathering in the northwest Ontario city on Thursday agree: They call them parasites for a reason.
The invasive species originates from the Atlantic Ocean and has wreaked havoc in the Great Lakes for decades.
They use their mouths to latch onto other fish and suck out their blood and bodily fluids, boring holes in their sides and ultimately killing them. That’s why they’re called vampire fish and are front and center on the Great Lakes Fisheries Commission’s most wanted list.
A new permanent sea lamprey trap has been installed on the Canadian side of Lake Superior at the Neebing River Weir – the only invasive species indexing site in Canada.
Listen | Celebrating Thunder Bay’s new sea lamprey trap:
Celebrating Thunder Bay’s new sea lamprey trap
“The purpose of the trap is to estimate the number of sea lampreys in the river each year, and it helps us track how well we are doing at controlling sea lampreys,” said Bravener, section assessment manager with the Sea Lamprey Management Center.
“The goal is to protect the fisheries in the lakes, and that’s valued at more than $5 billion across all the Great Lakes combined,” he said. “Without controlling sea lampreys, many native fish wouldn’t be able to recover, and the restoration of economically important fish in the lakes wouldn’t be possible.”
“Be part of the solution”
The LRCA has a long-standing partnership with DFO and has allowed temporary sea lamprey traps on properties it owns for years. The new permanent trap is much safer, Bravener said, and uses river water and a valve to draw the water — and the sea lampreys — inside.
“It really works in the direction of our mission, which is driving the conservation [and] protection of the lake and basin,” Cook said.
A new sign along a nearby walking path was also unveiled on Thursday. It lets people know how the trap works and offers facts about the tagged “Fish Killer.”
“I think it’s really important to educate the public so they understand what the trap does, as well as the importance of managing invasive species in our basin,” Cook said.
Students from Dennis Franklin Cromartie High School walked over to watch the trap opening and take on the strange species themselves.
Mayor Ken Boscoff, who says his political career began with his involvement with the preservation authority years ago, said it’s important for young people to witness positive change in the making.
“Participating in the solution today is a very auspicious moment. People have figured out a way to get the rivers back to what they should be, what they should have stayed,” Boshcoff said.
Bravener advises anyone who encounters a sea lamprey in the wild to “release” it if possible.
“There’s no point in keeping them alive. Our whole program is to try to eliminate them and remove as many as possible.”
People can report sightings directly to the Sea Lamprey Management Centre or through provincial channels. The toll-free Invasive Species Hotline can be reached at 1-800-563-7711. People can also use the Eddmaps Ontario app, visit the Eddmaps website , or the Invasive Species Ontario Project on inaturalist.
