Introduction
Sea invasion is a common occurrence, for example, Lake Superior and Huron produced more than 7000 tons of fish in 1940 before the collapse of trout population after infestation by sea lampreys in 1962 (“U.S. fish & Wildlife Service n.d.”). In essence, sea lampreys have affected ecology in lakes and seas since they are destructive. A single sea lamprey can kill more than 40 pounds of fish in its lifetime (“U.S. fish & Wildlife Service n.d.”). The species whose scientific name is petromyzon marinus, belongs to a primitive (relic) group of jawless fish, usually referred to as Agnathans. They belong to kingdom Animalia under the phylum chordata, class hyperoartia, and order hyperoartia. Sea lampreys are “diadromous” like salmon, which implies that their juvenile life starts in the rivers and streams before they move to salty or freshwater lakes where they become parasites on other fish. Sea lampreys affect other fish by feeding on them, which leaves wounds on their skin causing them to get infected and die which has an impact on the livelihood of people who depend on fishing as an economic activity.
Effects on the Ecosystem
A study published by Evans and Karim (2015) reveals that sea lampreys get their food resources using parasitic means. They feed on fish fluids after drilling wounds on their bodies to make a hole in their skin. The fish are drained of their body fluids or develop wounds on their skin that become infected and lead to death (Evans and Karim 2015). Sea lampreys attack fish that have a long life span in the water ecosystem. Such fish are valued highly since they fetch good prices in both local and international markets. Trout and salmon, which are native fish, have their population reduced by sea lampreys. It is a loss to the sea’s ecosystem because sea lampreys’ predatory actions may cause the extinction of these precious species.
Effects on the Fishing Industry
Sea lampreys have a significant effect on the population of salmon and trout, which, in turn, impacts the fishing industry. The populations of these species continue to decrease since the predatory actions of lampreys influence fish spawning. Evans and Karim (2015) explore reasons as to why sea lampreys are becoming unpopular with their populations declining steadily. There are government efforts to wipe them out of lakes and seas. Some lakes do not offer a conducive environment to allow them to breed. Besides, they are disliked for their destruction which directly influences human economic activity. A fish attacked by sea lampreys spends most of its time healing instead of reproducing. Reduced fish population results in a low fish catch for consumption and export which hurts the livelihoods of fishing communities.
Interesting Finds from the Study
The article by Evans and Karim (2015) leads one to raise a question as to why sea lampreys are not economically valued even though they can be used as meals. This species has been neglected and is considered not important and instead is being eliminated (“U.S. fish & Wildlife Service n.d.”). The people residing around the Great Lakes have a negative attitude towards sea lamprey which decreases their demand as a possible meal. The fish is considered inedible because of its gruesome appearance and the amount of destruction they cause for other fish.
Conclusion
Sea lampreys reduce the fish population, which affects the livelihoods of people. They negatively influence economic activities such as tourism and fishing in lakes. Sea lampreys feed on fish fluids and cause them to die. Fishermen have less catch because of the significantly reduced fish population. The long-term effect is an impact on the water ecosystem which affects the people who live around lakes and depend on fishing. It is now crucial to control the population of sea lampreys.
Reference List
Evans, Thomas M., and Karin E. Limburg. 2015. “The Distribution of Larval Sea Lampreys, Petromyzon Marinus, and their Nutritional Sources in the Hudson River Basin.” Northeastern Naturalist 22 (1): 69-83. Web.
U.S. fish & Wildlife Service. Featured Species: Invasive Sea Lamprey. Fws.gov. Web.