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TheGreat Lakes Fishery Commission is a bi-national commission made up of representatives of theUnited States andCanada. It was formed by theConvention on Great Lakes Fisheries, which was concluded in 1954 and ratified in 1955. The commission is constituted of eight members: four members are appointed by thePresident of the United States, serving six-year terms, and four are appointed by thePrivy Council of Canada.[1] The commission is charged under Article Four of the Convention on Great Lakes Fisheries with conducting research and making recommendations on the management ofGreat Lakes fisheries, as well attempting the eradication of thesea lamprey from the Great Lakes.
The sea lamprey was originally introduced into theOntario Lake in the mid-1800s and the Upper Great Lakes in 1921.[2] The sea lamprey is aparasiticinvasive species of fish which poses a threat to several fish species in the ecosystem such astrout,salmon,sturgeon, andwalleye.[3]
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The Great Lakes Fishery Commission is involved in fish regulation issues globally. Both of the participating nations conduct research efforts and recommend the management of the Great Lakes by the four American and four Canadian nominative representatives. Robert Lambe, an executive secretary of theCanadian Privy Council, stated in relation to the collaboration of both countries in the management of the Great Lakes ecosystem: "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."[4] The president and CEO of theGrand Rapids White Water commented: "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."[5] The Canadian government has increased funding for its national sea lamprey population control program.Terry Sheehan stated:
"The sea lamprey control program of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission is a shining example of the binational commitment between Canada and the United States to protect the whole of the Great Lakes ecosystem. For generations our countries have worked cooperatively to reduce, and control, sea lamprey numbers.[6] 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."
Sheehan added that the binational collaborated with the United States and Canada is a beneficial initiative and expressed his desire to see future cooperations between the two countries to control invasive species.[7]
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Populations of sea lamprey in the region are controlled by a type oflampricide known asTFM, which targets the specific species only and does not affect other fish or marine species. The lampricide is largely non-toxic to other forms of life and does not spread throughout the water.[8] TheUnited States Fish and Wildlife Service,Fisheries and Oceans Canada, andUnited States Army Corps of Engineers have led a collective effort to find a solution that will effectively control lamprey population. As sea lamprey primarily feed oflarvae, biological research efforts have aimed to determine the nature of the larval sea lamprey, which would provide information about the species distribution, size structure, presence, and population in territories where they are located.[9][10]
Traps are often set against the sea lamprey to prevent them moving upstream to spawn in the aim of reducing the spawning of individuals.[11]
The Great Lakes Fishery Commission and theGrand Rapids White Water are planned to receive additional funds equal to a seven million federal dollar increase to control sea lamprey populations. The budget is intended to restore balance in the ecosystem of the rapids by protecting populations of other species from the sea lamprey. A sea lamprey barrier is in the process of construction by the commission.[12]
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