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Land-locked sea lamprey 2009
Updated 28 August 2009
The lamprey species are an elongate, eel-like fish but have no true jaws. Instead they have a sucker-like mouth that they use to attach to host fish. The sea and river lamprey normally live at sea as adults, attaching themselves to a wide range of host species. However, a limited number of non-migratory sea lampreys were positively identified from Irish lakes in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s.These samples were provided by anglers – with a number of valuable results coming from Lough Conn and Lough Derg.
Land-locked lamprey 2009 – an update
Back in May we asked for your help in regard to land-locked lamprey. We are delighted with the response and would like to thank anglers and other water users for many emails and, most importantly, for a specimen of the elusive beasts.
Lough Derg
The mouth of a sea lamprey showing its formidable array of teeth.
Over the past few years we have received some emails from anglers fishing the mayfly on L. Derg on the Shannon. They reported catching good trout on the fly, but the trout often had a lamprey attached. Thanks to our colleagues in the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board and Mr. Ruarai Costello and his fellow anglers of the Mount Shannon Anglers Club a specimen of lamprey was made available to us for examination. The fish was a sea lamprey, of the same species as the large lamprey seen spawning in such locations as Annacotty (Mulkear), Castleconnel, Plassey (Shannon), Ennis (Fergus), Ballina (Moy) and Clonmel (Suir). The major difference with the L.Derg sea lamprey is its small size –27cm in this case - as opposed to the larger, sea-going fish of 60 – 90 cm. The fish was confirmed on the basis of the teeth pattern, which is quite unique for the sea lamprey. We could not have examined the teeth without a specimen!
There have been previous records of this land-locked form from L. Derg, with a photo and details presented by Dr. William O’ Connor in the ESB Fisheries Conservation Annual Report for 1997-98. Land-locked forms of sea lamprey are well-known from the North American Great Lakes. As with the L. Derg fish, these are small relative to the anadromous or migratory sea lamprey.
Lough Conn
Older records compiled by Dr. Michael Kennedy of the Inland Fisheries Trust, confirmed specimens of small sea lamprey attached to fish in L. Conn and in Iniscarra Reservoir. In recent days, a note from Mr. Sean Goulding confirmed lamprey attached to trout in L. Conn during this year’s mayfly season.
Killarney Lakes
Meanwhile, lamprey appear to be attaching themselves to whatever they can find in the Killarney Lakes, since late July. Several emails from swimmers and boat users pointed to swimmers, training for an open-water swim in Muckross Lake, emerging from the water in their wet suits to find a lamprey attached. The unexpected fish caused quite a scare, understandably, and no one was audacious enough to retain a sample. However, the information provided on size and colouring suggest that the fish in question were sea lamprey of typical migratory size. It is late in the year for sea lamprey to be moving to spawning grounds – the spawning season generally occurs in the late May – June period.
Thank you
The spate of sightings of lamprey have been very informative and helpful. In all cases we would be delighted if you are in a position to keep a specimen and freeze it for us to collect. Failing that, a good digital image on camera or camera phone would be important. With photos, it is very helpful if you can include something to give a scale or sense of size – such as a mobile phone or a finger tip!
Thank you again for all the emails – they are certainly providing us with pointers for our survey work in 2010.
Dr Jimmy King
Central Fisheries Board
28/08/09
WE NEED YOUR HELP AS AN ANGLER
Lamprey on a brown trout caught in Scarriff Bay, Lough Derg 2009.
Courtesy of Gavin Mannix
Land-locked sea lamprey do not go to sea but will attach themselves to host fish in lakes. These hosts may well be the bigger fish present –adult salmon, large brown trout or adult pike. You may well land one attached to your prized fish. Or you may notice round or disc-like scarring marks on the sides of your fish – where the lamprey had been attached. We are anxious to collect information on both forms of ‘evidence’ of land-locked sea lamprey and you, the angler, are the best person to help.
What to do: If you land an angling fish with an eel- like fish attached PLEASE retain both. We hope you will enjoy your sport fish, either for eating or for catch-and-release BUT
- Please retain the other fish for us to carry out a scientific examination.
- Put it in a freezer or post it or ring one of our contact numbers
- Remember we need a date, location on the lake and type of fish to which the lamprey was attached!
If you notice round or disc-like markings on the fish skin with scarring of flesh we would love to hear from you with
- A record of the angling fish size, location and number of marks.
- A photo via digital camera or camera phone would be particularly helpful.
- Remember to include date and location of capture.
Contacts:
NWRFB
Head Office or Kevin O’Boyle 096 22623
Shannon RFB:
Head Office 061 300238 or Ken O’ Neill 087 3296306
CFB
Jimmy King 087 6468608
May 2009
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