The Lost Fish - The Struggle to Save Pacific Lamprey

[@kirkstewart-vf6hg]

I used to watch them spawn in the gravel of a small tributary to Elk creek that empties into the ocean at crescent city california as a young kid fishing cutthroat trout. Every spring they spawned in the same place . I watched them latch onto rocks with their mouths to move to make a nest. I was in awe of them then as now I never bothered them. What a great fish ! They must be brought back I commend your dedication may the creator bless you and the Lamrey!

[@freshwatersillustrated]

Thanks for sharing - one of our favorite sights to see is watching lamprey build their nests!

[@benpollan3244]

Always been a dream of mine to help recover out native species of fish. I do what I can and when I can. I have a love and compassion for our land and animals that we are allowed to use. I really enjoyed this video.

[@freshwatersillustrated]

Thank you - keep up your good work and long live lampreys.

[@lesleyfitzpatrick1711]

A moving story of humans who are working so hard to maintain something so important to both their history and the continued existence of an ancient species.

[@freshwatersillustrated]

Thanks for watching. We were lucky to experience and capture some of this story, and learn about stewardship from people like Elmer Crow, Jr.

[@kristiinaiisakkila]

Hello from Finland! I love lampreys and Pacific lampreys are my favourites, I am so happy so much have done to protect and save this incredible animal. Love watching videos of Entosphenus tridentatus, I would so much loved to see them live ( Oregon Zoo or at the special World Fish Migration Day celebration) but got employed and have to give up that dream. Anyway, I have studied lampreys a LOT, and tried to do my best here in Finland; I have been there to make better spawning gravels for trouts, and our lampreys Lampetra fluviatilis and Lampetra planeri can use the same gravels. In fact I have sawn ammocoetes at those places. Lampreys are very important for me as they saved my life; 7 years ago I was so depressed and did not see any hope - but I saw a photo of a lamprey > I knew this is something I want to know more (....everything ) and lampreys gave me a reason to live. And now, there are 50 species of lampreys in the world!

[@freshwatersillustrated]

Thank you for sharing, and for taking care of Finland's lampreys! We hope you can come here someday to meet the Pacific Lamprey and the wonderful community of lamprey lovers here. There are many of us whose lives have changed because of lampreys!!

[@medusianAllure]

Lamprey have been invasive in the Great Lakes for decades. I'm grateful to hear a different story about them, one where they're part of a healthy ecosystem.

[@freshwatersillustrated]

Thanks for watching. The Sea Lamprey invasion of the great lakes is a tragic story, and the result of human decisions (not unlike damming large rivers). There are also native lampreys in the Upper midwest that get overshadowed / misunderstood by the invasive sea lamprey story.

[@ripple3699]

toronto lamprey heaven