The Threat to $5 Billion Great Lakes Fishery: Federal Firings
Sweeping layoffs of federal employees have shaken the program tasked with controlling the invasive sea lamprey eel that poses a threat to fish populations across the Great Lakes, the largest freshwater ecosystem on Earth. Among the hundreds of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) employees let go this month, 12 members of the Great Lakes sea lamprey control program, stationed in Marquette and Ludington, Michigan, were included in the cuts.
The potential consequences of these staffing reductions could be dire for the native fish population in the lakes and the $5 billion fishery they sustain. For over seven decades, the binational Great Lakes Fishery Commission, jointly managed by Canada and the United States, has been responsible for managing the lamprey population in the lakes.
The Impact of Staffing Cuts on Lamprey Control
The commission annually contracts with USFWS to apply a pesticide targeting lamprey larvae. In Michigan, the fish and wildlife control team utilizes a chemical called TFM in rivers and tributaries where lampreys lay their eggs. Unchecked, lamprey larvae metamorphose into parasitic adults that devastate aquatic ecosystems.
With a mouth lined with teeth and suction-cup abilities to attach to other fish, a single lamprey can consume up to 40 pounds of fish in a year. Greg McClinchey, the director of policy and legislative affairs for the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, described lampreys as “nasty little critters” that cause significant damage to ecosystems.
Before the discovery of TFM in the late 1950s, controlling lampreys was a monumental task. However, with the effective pesticide and seasonal hires, the commission has been successful in managing lamprey populations with a relatively small team. Each year, the team eliminates over five million lamprey larvae that would otherwise mature and reproduce in the Great Lakes.
The Human Impact of Layoffs
The recent layoffs, driven by the Trump administration’s efforts to slash the federal workforce, have affected about 14% of the lamprey control program’s staff. This reduction could result in over one million lampreys surviving, leading to the consumption of nearly five million pounds of fish, equating to $105 million in lost economic output.
Despite bipartisan support for the lamprey control program, the layoffs have had a significant personal impact on the workers. An unnamed technician from the USFWS station in Marquette, Michigan, who was laid off after ten months in a career position and two years at the agency, expressed concerns about the broader implications of the federal government’s actions.
The technician’s experience highlights the uncertainty faced by many probationary employees who were informed they were at risk of layoffs. While her performance reviews had been positive, the termination letter she received cited a lack of alignment with the department’s current needs as the reason for her dismissal.
The layoffs in the U.S. will not affect the lamprey control program in Canada, as confirmed by McClinchey. However, the success of the program relies on a coordinated effort across borders, making any cuts to U.S. waters a threat to the entire Great Lakes ecosystem.
In conclusion, the recent staffing cuts in the lamprey control program pose a significant risk to the delicate balance of the Great Lakes ecosystem and the lucrative fishery it sustains. The impact of these layoffs extends beyond economic losses to the personal and professional lives of dedicated workers striving to protect this vital natural resource.
