‘Something out of a horror movie’
Funding to research new ways to control the sea lamprey, the invasive vacuum cleaner of the Great Lakes, is at risk. This development raises concerns among local people and observers.
What’s going on?
Wisconsin Public Radio reported About how threatened finances and newfound potential flexibility could lead to the return of the prolific angler. The invasive lamprey uses a powerful suction cup to attach to fish, wielding its 100 sharp teeth, and then kills them with brutal six-sevenths of the speed.
“These are kind of like something out of a horror movie,” journalist Katie Thornton told WPR. While the lamprey protects humans from its wrath, its presence can devastate native fish such as lake trout and whitefish.
That’s what happened between 1944 and 1954, when commercial trout harvests in Lake Michigan declined by a remarkable 98%. The government responded by establishing the nonprofit Great Lakes Fisheries Commission in the 1950s.
This organization discovered a chemical that specifically targets lampreys, leading to a revival of native fish populations. From there, it was smooth sailing until the COVID-19 pandemic and recent cuts by the Ministry of Public Efficiency. affected treatment.
Although funding and staff have been restored, there are worrying signs that sea lamprey are developing immunity to pesticides. This alarm was further raised when the Trump administration proposed a 79% funding cut to the Great Lakes Science Center, a major player in researching alternative treatments.
Why are potential disruptions to lamprey research important?
If left untreated, the invasive sea lamprey is a real threat. Thornton found that during COVID, a lake exploded and lampreys increased tenfold in just one year. This means the end of the fish that provide both food and livelihood for many Midwesterners.
While the threat has been neutralized for some time with effective pesticides and treatments, resting on these successes is a dangerous proposition. The invader is lethal and can produce an incredibly rapid effect. Being caught flatfoot harms the local fish population.
Thornton revealed that the process of identifying the chemical that controls lamprey took more than five years and 5,000 trials, demonstrating the dangers of waiting.
What is being done about possible disruptions to lamprey research?
Thornton suggested. to WPR Even in the generally pro-Trump Michigan district, there was widespread support for preserving research funding. Locals remember the damage the sea lamprey could cause to the fish population and do not want to take their chances.
While funding remains in the balance, scientists are working on alternative ways to control invasive species.
These include many advanced technologies, such as electric dams that keep out lampreys through conducted electrical currents. Artificial intelligence is another option to detect fish and prevent them from entering unwanted waters.
A different approach involves using the scent of dead lampreys to control their movements. Another attempt involves introducing infertile males into the population.
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