The Revival of the Great Lakes’ Battle Against Sea Lampreys
Efforts to control the invasive sea lamprey in the Great Lakes region are back on track as federal recruitment resumes. This comes after the program faced potential setbacks due to recent administrative changes.
The Great Lakes Fishery Commission, a collaborative entity between Canada and the U.S., is responsible for overseeing the management of sea lamprey populations, an eel-like species that threatens the local ecosystem. The commission typically partners with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to employ teams tasked with setting traps and applying lampricide in rivers to prevent lampreys from reaching the Great Lakes.
Recent policy changes under the Trump administration, which included firing probationary workers and halting seasonal hires, threatened to disrupt these critical operations, which usually span from April to October. According to a report by the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, this disruption could have resulted in a significant loss of fishing potential valued at over $200 million. More details on the potential impact can be found here.
Greg McClinchey, the commission’s director of policy and legislative affairs, announced the green light for rehiring 12 probationary and 25 seasonal workers. “It’s good news. There is positive momentum there,” McClinchey noted. Despite being behind schedule, he expressed optimism about getting the program back on track.
However, uncertainties remain. McClinchey pointed out that some workers might have already secured other employment, and training new hires will take additional time. This could further delay the commencement of the program.
While the exact impact of these obstacles on sea lamprey numbers is still being evaluated, McClinchey emphasized the goal to start operations as early as feasible. “The hope is still very much that we will commence as early as possible. The plan is to model the program as closely as we can after what we have done traditionally,” he stated.
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