Alternative Sea Lamprey Barrier Technologies: History as a Control Tool

Abstract

Currently, application of lampricides and installation of low-head barriers are the only proven means of sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) control in the Great Lakes. While sea lamprey cannot climb or jump over low-head barriers, many desirable migratory species also cannot traverse barriers and are unintentionally blocked. Recently, there has been a push to reduce reliance on chemical controls as well as increase stream connectivity and flood conveyance. In response, the Great Lakes Fishery Commission (GLFC) continues to seek alternative methods of control. Great Lakes basin resource managers often request consideration of alternatives to both lampricide use and low-head barriers. Seasonal operation and alternative barrier designs (e.g. velocity barriers and electrical barriers) that incorporate additional features such as selective fish passage or flood conveyance are among the most commonly requested options. To date, alternative barrier technologies have been intermittently successful in the sea lamprey control program directed by the GLFC, yet continue to be proposed as alternatives to conventional low-head barriers. This document provides a comprehensive review on the current state of knowledge regarding the effectiveness of current and alternative barrier technologies and their historical use in the sea lamprey control program. This synthesis provides resource managers and sea lamprey control agents a reference and some tools to facilitate decision making around barriers that balance the critical need for invasive species control and fishery restoration.

Single-Stream Recycling Inspires Selective Fish Passage Solutions for the Connectivity Conundrum in Aquatic Ecosystems

“…Barriers that intentionally block fish passage are common tools used to control invasive fish. The fixed-crest barrier is one of the most prevalent and effective physical impediments to invasive fish passage used around the world to block invasive species such as sea lamprey ( Petromyzon marinus ; Zielinski et al 2019 ), European perch ( Perca fluviatilis ; Starrs et al 2017 ), goldfish ( Carassius auratus ; Morán-López and Tolosa 2017 ), and rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ; Novinger and Rahel 2003 ). Although fixed-crest barriers can be designed to exploit interspecific differences in fish locomotion, they often impede passage of nonnative species with overlapping locomotor attributes (McLaughlin et al 2013 ).…”

“…Selectively passing desirable taxa beyond barriers while restricting the movement of undesirable taxa (selective connectivity) could provide a solution to the connectivity conundrum in fragmented systems managed primarily to support human society. The concept of selective connectivity aligns with the societal push for dam removal (Foley et al 2017 ) that has heightened tensions between barrier removal for rehabilitation and barrier retention for controlling invasive species (Novinger and Rahel 2003 , McLaughlin et al 2013 , Starrs et al 2017 , Zielinski et al 2019 ). Although the idealized condition of fully selective connectivity may not exist in natural ecosystems and may be challenging to attain, even partial fulfillment of the goal can significantly enhance ecosystem function (Pratt et al 2009 , Gates et al 2012 ).…”

The future of barriers and trapping methods in the sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) control program in the Laurentian Great Lakes

“…The online barrier inventory continues to be updated (data.glfc.org). The suite of sea lamprey barriers currently under the GLFC's care and control includes 50 purpose-built structures, as well as 27 de facto barriers, which the GLFC has modified or refurbished to serve a sea lamprey control function (see Zielinski et al 2019 for a detailed description of current sea lamprey barrier types).…”

“…Despite this impetus and advancements in design, only four new sea lamprey barriers have been built since 2000. Though many alternative barrier designs have been tested, including velocity barriers, electric fields, resistance weirs, flow-through screens, artificiallyenhanced natural drops/slides, bubble screens, acoustic and light deterrents, few have been incorporated into the program (Zielinski et al 2019).…”

“…For that reason, selective passage of non-target species (native migratory fishes and introduced salmonids) around sea lamprey barriers has become one of the highest priorities of the GLFC and SLCP (O'Connor et al 2003;Coscarelli et al 2011). Indeed, the GLFC has begun a major initiative on the Boardman River, Michigan to test and develop selective fish passage tools for Great Lakes migratory species (Zielinski et al 2019; http://www.glfc.org/fishpass.php). Most purpose-built sea lamprey barriers are low-head design and pool-and-weir passage structures at a few de facto barriers allow passage of salmonids, yet native Great Lakes species do not possess strong jumping abilities and are often blocked by these structures.…”