By what approximate percentage have Sea Lamprey populations been successfully reduced from their historical peak?
Answer
About 90% from their peak levels in the 1950s
The coordinated control program against the invasive sea lamprey, managed through binational scientific effort, has achieved remarkable success in population suppression. Since reaching their highest recorded numbers during the 1950s, intensive efforts involving the application of lampricides like TFM in spawning streams have resulted in a substantial decline. These control measures have effectively reduced the overall sea lamprey population levels by approximately 90 percent from those historical peaks. This sustained reduction is essential for protecting the multi-billion dollar Great Lakes fishery, as failure to maintain these treatments could cause the fishery to collapse within a few years.
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