A single invasive sea lamprey can kill up to 40 pounds of fish a year. But a new trap in Arenac County aims to catch thousands of lamprey and put a dent in their population.
The Au Gres River releases about 4,500 lamprey annually into Lake Huron – where they can decimate lake trout, whitefish, walleye, and salmon. The river’s new permanent trap will catch adult lamprey heading into the river to spawn.
Marc Gaden is with the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. He said a single female lamprey can produce up to 100,000 eggs, so it’s important to remove lamprey from the river before they have a chance to multiply.
“The problem with lampreys is you must have a very high trapping day to have a meaningful impact on lamprey control,” Gaden said. “This new trap is the latest design that we hope will demonstrate the cutting edge of lamprey control in the Great Lakes.”
Gaden said traps and chemical “lampricides” are the two main methods for controlling sea lamprey. Choosing the best method depends on the stream, its existing infrastructure, and the control’s target.
The $1.67 million trap replaces a temporary trap that had a lower catch rate. Gaden said the trap works by attracting sea lamprey swimming against the river’s current and confines them with a lamprey-shaped one-way door.
