Great interview. Just a note. Sea Lamprey did not come from ship ballast water. Sea lampreys entered the Great Lakes system in the 1800s through manmade locks and shipping canals. Prior to the opening of the Welland Canal in 1829, and prior to its modification in 1919, Niagara Falls served as a natural barrier to keep sea lampreys out of the upper Great Lakes.
This info took me by surprise, having heard the much touted 'ballast tank' explanation. I Googled and ascertained it to be correct: "Great Lakes Fishery Commission Sea Lamprey: A Great Lakes Invader"
@@stephensaines7100 I’ve studied fish species at risk and invasive fish species for two decades. While some species have been spread by ballast water Sea Lamprey likely reached the Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron and Erie through the Welland Canal.
I wonder if someone could develop small sea lamprey fisheries on the lakes. Gourmet restaurants are always looking for unusual ingredients, and if eel pie is already a traditional British delicacy, they've got a way to prepare them right there. Conservation groups could gain some funds by trapping and selling the lampreys, and the restaurants could push the green angle. Being a seasonal thing would just make the lampreys seem more of a rare delicacy to restaurant patrons. Perhaps someone should contact one of the organizations that sponsors chef's competitions.
