Sea Lamprey Hands-on Experience

November 23, 2022

I’m not sure if you can tell by the look on my face, but I’ve never had a sea lamprey on my hand until this moment! Sea lampreys attach to fish with their suction cup mouth and dig their teeth into flesh for grip. Once securely attached, sea lampreys rasp through the fish’s scales and skin with their sharp tongue. Sea lampreys feed on the fish’s body fluids by secreting an enzyme that prevents blood from clotting, similar to how a leech feeds off its host. Good news: my hand is fine, and sea lampreys can be controlled. Thank you to the Great Lakes Fishery Commission for the education and hands-on experience.