By Pat Bradley
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-982069.mp3
Colchester, VT – The sea lamprey is an eel that attaches to fish to feed. It has plagued the sport fishing and tourism sectors for over a decade in Lake Champlain. Both New York and Vermont have shared efforts to control the lamprey, and Secretary Salazar praised the successful efforts to reduce the numbers of lamprey in the lake. During a stop in Colchester, the Interior Secretary said future management of Lake Champlain lamprey control would be handled by federal agencies. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Lake Champlain Complex Manager David Tilton.
Tilton says the varied agencies have been working on the project together for over a decade and the new arrangement will not change overall control efforts.
University of Vermont Professor of Fisheries and Wildlife Dr. Ellen Marsden is one of the researchers studying the sea lamprey. She says the new arrangement will not affect lake scientists.
Lake Champlain LakeKeeper Louis Porter is glad that the Secretary is drawing attention to the importance of protecting and restoring Lake Champlain's fisheries.
The program has been funded thru the Great Lakes Fisheries Commission. 700-thousand dollars has been allocated for Lake Champlain lamprey control this year.