Great Lakes Fishery Commission facts for kids

The Great Lakes Fishery Commission is a special group with members from both the United States and Canada. It was created in 1954 (and officially started in 1955) by an agreement called the Convention on Great Lakes Fisheries. This commission has eight members: four are chosen by the President of the United States, and four are chosen by the Privy Council of Canada (a group of advisors to the Canadian government). Their main jobs are to study and suggest ways to manage the fish in the Great Lakes, and to try and get rid of an unwanted fish called the sea lamprey.

Why the Sea Lamprey is a Problem

The sea lamprey first entered Lake Ontario in the mid-1800s and then spread to the Upper Great Lakes by 1921. This fish causes a lot of damage to the environment and other living things in the lakes.

What is a Sea Lamprey?

The sea lamprey is a type of fish that is an invasive species. This means it's not originally from the Great Lakes and causes harm when it moves in. Sea lampreys are like parasites; they attach themselves to other fish and feed on their blood and body fluids. They kill many important Great Lakes fish, such as trout, salmon, sturgeon, and walleye.

Working Together: Canada and the U.S.

The Great Lakes Fishery Commission is a "bi-national" group, meaning it involves two nations: Canada and the United States. Both countries work together to research and manage the Great Lakes. They also focus on controlling the sea lamprey.

Leaders Speak Out

Robert Lambe, an executive secretary from the Canadian Privy Council, explained why this teamwork is so important. He said that bi-national groups like this one team up to solve big problems in the Great Lakes region. Lambe pointed out that "Sea lamprey will kill up to 40 pounds of Great Lakes fish, which is why control of the destructive invader is essential the seven billion fishery." This shows how much damage one sea lamprey can do!

Another leader, the president of Grand Rapids White Water, also spoke about how funding helps. He said, "These additional funds will help to leverage other local, state, and private dollars to support the restoration of the Grand River for everyone and ensure protection against invasive species." This means more money helps restore rivers and protect against harmful species like the sea lamprey.

Canada's Commitment

Canada's government has been putting more money into controlling the sea lamprey and protecting its fish species. Terry Sheehan, a member of parliament, said that the sea lamprey control program is a great example of how Canada and the United States work together. He added, "For generations our countries have worked cooperatively to reduce, and control, sea lamprey numbers. I am pleased to be reaffirming our dedication to the health and longevity of our beloved fisheries through this increase in annual funding to the Great Lakes Fishery." This shows that both countries are dedicated to keeping the Great Lakes healthy for a long time.

Controlling the Sea Lamprey

Since the sea lamprey is an invasive species, it needs to be controlled to keep the Great Lakes ecosystem healthy and help other fish survive.

Using TFM to Control Lampreys

One way to control sea lampreys is by using a special chemical called TFM (short for 3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol). TFM kills sea lampreys very well, but it has little to no harmful effect on other fish. It also doesn't harm aquatic plants, insects, wildlife, humans, or mammals. TFM is not toxic and doesn't spread widely in the water.

How Biologists Find Lampreys

Organizations like the United States Fish and Wildlife, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and the United States Army Corps of Engineers work together to find solutions. Sea lampreys spend a big part of their lives as larvae, filter-feeding in streams. Biologists first figure out which streams have these larval sea lampreys. They test and study the lampreys to understand where they are, how many there are, and their sizes. This helps them plan how to control them.

New Funding for Control

The Great Lakes Fishery Commission and the city of Grand Rapids White Water are getting more money from the government to fight the invasive sea lamprey. They received a seven million dollar increase, which is more than the previous year. This money will be used to restore rivers and make sure controlling the sea lamprey is a top priority. It also helps protect and restore other fish species that are harmed by the lamprey. Part of this budget will also go towards building special barriers to help manage the lamprey more easily.

Trapping Sea Lampreys

Another way to control sea lampreys is by trapping them.

How Traps Work

Traps are set to catch sea lampreys as they swim upstream to lay their eggs (this is called spawning). By catching them before they can reproduce, fewer new lampreys are born. Trapping helps prevent lampreys from having more babies, which reduces their overall population.