Sustainability of North American Great Lakes R. Lambe Great Lakes Fishery Commission & C. I. Goddard, M. Gaden, C. Krueger, GLFC North American Invasive Species Network April 22, 2012 Cancun, Mexico Great Shared Waters between USA Lakes and Canada < 50 Fathoms (< 100 m) > 50 Fathoms (> 100 m) Deep Cold Oligotrophic Challenges to Sustainability Invasive Species • Sea Lamprey Sea Lamprey First Observed 1938 1937 1800s 1936 1924 Challenges to Sustainability Invasive Species • Sea Lamprey • Alewife – pelagic planktivore * Extirpated Species (*Now Extinct) HURON *Blackfin Cisco *Blue Pike *Deepwater Cisco Kiyi ONTARIO Lake Trout Atlantic Salmon Shortjaw Cisco Bigeye Chub *Shortnose Bloater Cisco *Blue Pike Kiyi Lake Trout Sauger Shortjaw Cisco *Shortnose Cisco MICHIGAN *Blackfin Cisco *Deepwater Cisco Kiyi Lake Trout ERIE Shortjaw Cisco *Shortnose Cisco *Blue Pike Silver Chub Lake Trout Longear Sunfish Paddlefish Sauger Shortjaw Cisco 1998 Cudmore and Crossman, Royal Ontario Museum Solutions to Human Impacts Effective Bi-national and Coordinated Management of… • Water Quality – (i.e. Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement) • Aquatic Habitat • Fish Harvesting • Invasive Species Solutions to Sea Lamprey Bi-national Sea Lamprey Control Program • Trapping • Barriers • Sterile Males • Lampricides • Pheromones U.S. Geological U.S. Fish and U.S. Army Fisheries and Survey Wildlife Service Corps of Oceans Canada Engineers Sea lamprey control reduced sea lamprey populations by 90% Solution to the Alewife • Stocking Pacific Salmon Tribal and Commercial Fishery Recreational Fishery The Future Collaborative Action Need to Continue… • Continued Progress on Ballast Water Control • Increased Focus on Invasive Species Lessons to date… Eradication is very difficult (prevention is key) Education is key to prevention and spread Address all vectors (live bait, live food & aquarium trades; flooding; etc – aquatic invasive species are not just about ballast water and artificial canals • Increased Investment in Habitat Restoration • Continued Vigilance on Air Emissions and Water “Run Off” Thank You, from… .