Sea lamprey trap in Thunder Bay, Ont., aims to protect Great Lakes from invasive species

The mayor of Thunder Bay, Ont., describes them as frightening, unpleasant creatures.

Gale Bravener, who works for Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), says they remind him of an eel or snake, with sleek, slimy bodies and suction-cup mouths full of teeth.

Tammy Cook, chief administrative officer of the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority (LRCA), said "they're not very attractive" and look as if they belong in a sci-fi film.

While sea lampreys can't speak for themselves, those at Thursday's gathering in the northwestern Ontario city agree: they're called a parasite for a reason.

The invasive species originates from the Atlantic Ocean and has been wreaking havoc in the Great Lakes for decades.

They use their mouths to latch onto other fish and suck out their blood and bodily fluids, boring holes in their sides and ultimately killing them. It's why they're nicknamed vampire fish, and are front and centre on the Great Lakes Fishery Commission's most-wanted list.

A new permanent sea lamprey trap has been installed at the Neebing River Weir — the only indexing site for the invasive species on the Canadian side of Lake Superior.

"The purpose of the trap is to estimate the number of sea lamprey in the river each year, and that helps us track how well we're doing at sea lamprey control overall," said Bravener, the section head of assessment with the Sea Lamprey Control Centre.

"The goal is to protect the fishery in the lakes, and that's valued at over $5 billion in all of the Great Lakes combined," he said. "Without sea lamprey control, a lot of restoration of native fishes and economically-important fish in the lakes would not be possible."

The LRCA has a longstanding partnership with DFO, and has allowed temporary sea lamprey traps on the properties it owns for years. The new permanent trap is much safer, said Bravener, and uses the river water and a valve to draw water — and sea lamprey — inside.

"It really works towards our mission, which is leading the conservation [and] protection of the lake and watershed," Cook said.

A new sign was also unveiled on Thursday along the walking path nearby. It lets people know how the trap works and offers facts about the labelled "fish killer."

"I think it's very important to educate the public so they understand what it is the trap is doing and also the importance of managing invasive species in our watershed," said Cook.

Students from Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School walked over to watch the trap's unveiling and take in the strange species for themselves.

Mayor Ken Boshcoff, who says his political career began with his involvement in the conservation authority years ago, said it's important for young people to bear witness to positive change in the making.

"Being part of the solution today is a very auspicious moment. People have figured out a way to get the rivers back to the state they should be, that they should have stayed in," Boshcoff said.

Bravener recommends that anyone who encounters a sea lamprey in the wild should "dispose" of it if possible.

"There's no point in keeping them alive. Our whole program is to try to eliminate them and remove as many as we can."

People can report sightings either directly to the Sea Lamprey Control Centre or through the province's channels. The toll-free Invading Species Hotline can be reached at 1-800-563-7711. People can also use the EDDMapS Ontario app, visit the EDDMapS website or Invasive Species in Ontario project on iNaturalist.