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“With the Embrey Dam gone in Fredericksburg, Sea Lampreys are now free to ascend to historical spawning grounds in the upper watershed,” said Odenkirk.
The Embrey Dam was demolished in February of 2004 to allow the return of certain species of fish in the Rappahannock River.
Among the targeted species were American Shad, Hickory Shad, the Blueback herring and the Alewife herring. Odenkirk noted that fish species such as striped bass and American eels have also begun to show their presence in area rivers, but the targeted species are slower to catch up. “The Sea Lamprey is not a target but an opportunist,” said Odenkirk.
Although Sea Lampreys wrecked havoc in the Great Lakes in Michigan, devastating the native fish populations, Odenkirk stated that Sea Lampreys are native to this area and not a threat. “They will kill a fish here and there. . . after all it’s a predator, “ said Odenkirk, “but it won’t annihilate fish populations like it did in the Great Lakes.”
Odenkirk stated that in spite of their parasitic nature it is not necessary for anglers to destroy Sea Lampreys. “There is no real reason to kill them,” he said, “they may die after spawning but not always.”
Email the reporter at cspiering@timespapers.com.
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