Spatial distribution and abundance of adult sea lampreys during spawning migration through the St. Marys River

SMRSL

January 2010 - December 2014

The sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) is an invasive parasite in the Laurentian Great Lakes that has devastated native fish communities. Control efforts (e.g., removal via trapping, lampricide application, and sterilization) have substantially reduced their negative effects on the ecosystem. However, sea lamprey populations remain above target levels in Lake Huron. The St. Marys River is Lake Huron's largest tributary and greatest source of parasitic sea lamprey. Trapping there occurs at an upstream rapids area near the outflow of Lake Superior. Population assessment and control may be improved by capturing lampreys closer to Lake Huron or in tributaries that are currently not trapped. Up to 400 adult sea lampreys will be acoustically tagged and released in to the lower St. Marys River during spring spawning runs in 2010-2012. A detailed movement history for each tagged lamprey will be collected using a network of 80 acoustic receivers (Vemco VR2W) in the St. Marys River and tributaries.

• To measure the fraction of the sea lamprey population that encounter and are captured in existing traps. To determine if lampreys use distinct pathways during upstream migration through the lower river.
• To determine if lampreys use distinct pathways during upstream migration through the lower river.

• Results will aid in the development of improved sea lamprey assessment and control methods in Great Lakes tributaries.

• Christopher Holbrook (United States Geological Survey - Hammond Bay Biological Station) - cholbrook@usgs.gov
• Charles Krueger (Michigan State University)
• Roger Bergstedt (United States Geological Survey)
• Jessica Barber (United States Fish And Wildlife Service)
• Rod Mcdonald (Fisheries And Oceans Canada)

• Great Lakes Fishery Commission
• United States Geological Survey
• United States Fish and Wildlife Service
• Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada

• Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

• Holbrook, C.M., Bergstedt, R.A., Barber, J., Bravener, G.A., Jones, M.L., and C.C. Krueger. 2016. Evaluating harvest-based control of invasive fish with telemetry: Performance of sea lamprey traps in the Great Lakes. Ecological Applications. 26(6): 1595-1609. DOI: 10.1890/15-2251.1