DEEP makes plea to stop ‘needless’ killing of sea lamprey

CONNECTICUT (WTNH) – The Connecticut Fish and Wildlife agency says sea lamprey are piling up along riverbanks due to “needless” killings.

The agency said the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has received multiple reports of the fish being killed in significant numbers.

“Contrary to popular belief, there is no reason to harm these fish in Connecticut waters,” agency leaders said in a Facebook post Friday .

While they acknowledge non-native landlocked populations in the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain negatively impact fisheries, they say the Connecticut-native fish plays an essential role in our riverine ecosystems.

According to agency leaders, sea lamprey do not need to be killed just to be killed, they do not attack humans, they are not responsible for destroying trout or other freshwater fish, and when they die after spawning, they provide key nutrients to other aquatic plants and animals.

Additionally, sea lamprey are being stocked by the Fisheries Division to restore their populations to watersheds where dams and legacy water quality issues have negatively impacted their numbers.

And if those aren’t enough reasons to leave the fish alone, leaders said they are also very cool fish to observe, especially when using their suction disc to move large gravel while making a nest.

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