U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service To Cull Sea Lamprey Larvae In Keweenaw County

On Tuesday, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service will begin a treatment to help eliminate sea lamprey larvae offshore of Eliza Creek in Keweenaw County.

The treatment usually takes one day to complete.

The treatment consists of spraying a granular formulation over the surface of the water.

The formulation then sinks to the stream bottom, and irritates the lamprey larvae.

In about an hour after spraying, the larvae come to the top of the water and are collected.

Native lampreys, which pose no threat to fish, are released back to an area where no testing took place.

Sea lamprey larvae are disposed of.

Shawn Nowicki from the Department of Interior, explains why this must be done every few years.

The EPA has reviewed the lampricides used and concluded they pose no threat to the environment.