Before control measures were established, approximately how many pounds of fish did lamprey consume annually?
Answer
100 million pounds of fish annually
The destructive scale of the sea lamprey infestation before comprehensive control efforts were implemented in the Great Lakes was staggering, illustrating the severity of the ecological threat posed by this invasive species. During the period preceding organized management actions, parasitic sea lampreys were consuming an immense volume of native sport and commercial fish stocks. Quantified estimates indicate that these parasitic fish were collectively draining approximately 100 million pounds of fish from the Great Lakes ecosystem every single year. This massive annual loss underscores the value of the fishery being protected, which is estimated today to be worth $7 billion annually.
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