Taxonomy

Petromyzon marinus | Sea Lamprey

Distribution

Status

Conservation status

HABITATS DIRECTIVE ARTICLE 17 REPORTING
Range
Bad
Population
Bad
Habitat
Favourable
Future Prospects
Bad
Overal Assessment of Conservation Status
Bad
Overal trend in Conservation Status
Stable

Source: NPWS 2013

IUCN Conservation Status
Ireland (1)
Near threatened [A2c, B1ab(iii)]
Europe (2)
Least Concern
Global (3)
Least Concern

Sources: (1) King, J.L. et al 2011; (2) Freyhof, J. 2008; (3) NatureServe 2013.


Legal status

Protected by the following legal instruments:

  • Habitats Directive [92/42/EEC] Annex II
  • Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention) Appendix III
  • The Convention for the Protection of the marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (OSPAR Convention)
  • Fisheries Acts 1959 to 2006
  • Fisheries Act (Northern Ireland) 1966
  • Foyle Fisheries Act (NI) 1952
  • Foyle and Carlingford Fisheries Act 2007

Source:King, J.L. et al 2011; Maitland, Peter S., 2004.

Native status

Native.

Species Biology

Identification

  • Agnathus (jawless) fish with mouth a sucker like disc instead.
  • Has a single rather than a pair of nostrils and this between rather than in front of its eyes.
  • In Petromyzon marinus  there are many sharp teeth teeth on the sucking disc, the majority arranged in concentric circles.
  • Adults are rather eel like in shape but lack paired fins although dorsal and caudal fins are present.
  • Adult total length can be to 86cms but is more often less - to 60cms.
  • This is the largest of the European lamprey species.
  • Although overall eel like in shape the tail is flattened laterally.
  • There is a line of 7 gill openings behind each of the eyes. Eels have only 1 gill opening behind each of the eyes.
  • Adult colour consists of olive or brownish yellow ground colour with black marbling on back, side and fins and paler coloration underneath.
  • Base colour can lighten to gold or orange when spawning.


Sources: Maitland P.S., 2003; Maitland, Peter S., 2004.

Preferred environment


Habitat

Generally anadromous, migrating to sea as juveniles and returning as as adults to breed in freshwater. Historic records suggest some populations may spend their entire life in freshwater lakes, and there are landlocked populations of Sea Lamprey in some of the Great Lakes of the U.S. and Canada.
High quality waters are preferred in the freshwater phase with adults requiring clean gravel beds for spawning, the larvae (ammocoetes) requiring silty sands in  high quality fresh water to shelter and filter feed.

Habitats in Ireland can include;

  • Eroding / upland rivers (FW1)
  • Depositing / lowland rivers (FW2)
  • Mesotrophic lakes (FL4)
  • Limestone / marl lakes (FL3)
  • Marine water body (M)

Sources: Maitland P.S., 2003; Maitland, Peter S., 2004; Fossitt, J.A. 2001.

Reproduction

  • Spawning May - June.
  • Fertilisation takes place externally in a redd (or nest) that  is excavated by the male in gravel substrate. 
  • Males and females die after spawning.
  • Ammocoetes (larvae) hatch after 7-14 days.
  • Within 1-3 weeks of hatching ammocoetes drift downstream to embed in silty substrate where they live as filter feeders for up to 5 years.
  • The process of metamorphosis from ammocoete to adult is variously described as taking up to four weeks or up to four months. In Ireland this process apppears to be initiated between July and September.
  • Following metamorphisis the recently metamorphosed juveniles migrate to sea, the timing of the migration occurring from autumn to late spring.
  • The adult of the species is parasitic on other fish and cephalopod species, using teeth to attach to host.
  • Return to freshwater for breeding is timed for spring, after 3-4 years at sea.
  • Lifespan 7-9 years.

Sources: Maitland P.S., 2003 ; Maitland, Peter S., 2004; Kelly and King, 2001.

Threats faced

THREAT
ARTICLE 17 CODE
RANKING
Reduction in migration / migration barriers 
J03.02.01
High
Canalisation
J02.03.01  High
Bait digging / collection 
F02.03.01 Medium
Pollution to surface waters (limnic & terrestrial, marine & brackish)
H01 Medium

The 'high' threat categories relate particulary to obstruction of returning adults in accessing suitable habitat for spawning and / or limiting the natural freshwater range available for the species.

Source: NPWS 2013.

The threats to this species conservation status identified in the Habitats Directive Article 17 reporting accord well with those identified in the 2011 Irish Red Data list for Amphibians, Reptiles and Freshwater Fish.




Conservation actions

In the Article 17 Habitats Directive reporting for the period 2007-2012 Conservation Measures implemented or being implemented during the period were;

  • Continued legal protection of the species and its habitats inside and outside of Natura 2000 sites.
  • Other wetland related measures* inside and outside of Natura 2000 sites.

*In guidance notes for Article 17 reporting 'other wetland-related measures' can include 'restoring / improving the hydrological regime' which could include 'removal of barriers and artificial margins'.

Sources: NPWS 2013; European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity website.


A 2004 paper  recommended that in addition to the designation of Special Areas of Conservation and particularly for anadromous species the following measures would need consideration;

  • addressing water quality issues
  • tackling barriers [to migration]
Source: Igoe F., et al, 2004.

Irish reference specimens


Distribution

World distribution(GBIF)

Northeast Atlantic coasts, from Norway to North Africa and into western and central Mediterranean. Northwest Atlantic coasts, from Labrador to the Gulf of Mexico and including land locked populations in the Great Lakes of U.S and Canada.

Sources: Kottelat, M. and J. Freyhof, 2007; Renaud, C.B., 1997.

Accuracy of world distribution shown in the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) map below will be constrained by, amongst other factors, data held but not shared by countries and organizations not participating in the GBIF.

Irish distribution

Distribution would include major river systems connecting to north, west and south coasts. Historic and recent records of some landlocked populations in western lakes.

Sources: Igoe et al (2004); King et al 2011.


Temporal change

Records submitted to Data Centre in 2024

The following map is interactive. If you would prefer to view it full screen then click here.

How can you help

The National Biodiversity Data Centre is trying to improve our knowledge on the distribution of the Sea Lamprey in Ireland. Should you observe the species, please submit sightings to add to the database. Detailed observations will assist us gaining a better insight into where the species is most abundant in Ireland and we might also be able to detect regional variations. Please submit any sightings and photographs at:

http://records.biodiversityireland.ie/

All records submitted on line can be viewed on Google Maps – once checked and validated these will be added to the database and made available for conservation and research.

Further information

For further information contact Dr. Liam Lysaght llysaght@biodiversityireland.ie

References

Publications

Fossitt, J.A. (2001) A Guide to Habitats in Ireland. The Heritage Council.

Freyhof, J. 2008. Petromyzon marinus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 20 September 2014.

Igoe F.,  Quigley D.T.G.,  Marnell F.,  Meskell E., O’Connor W. and Byrne, C. (2004). The Sea Lamprey Petromyzon marinus (L.), River Lamprey Lampetra fluviatilis (L.) and Brook Lamprey Lampetra planeri (Bloch) In Ireland: General Biology, Ecology, Distribution and Status with Recommendations for Conservation. Biology and Environment: Proceedings Of The Royal Irish Academy,Vol.104b, No.3, 43/56

Kelly, Fiona L. and King, James J.   (2001) A review of the ecology and distribution of three lamprey species, Lampetra fluviatilis (l.)., Lampetra planeri (Bloch) and Petromyzon marinus (l.): A context for conservation and biodiversity considerations in Ireland Biology And Environment :Proceedings Of The Royal Irish Academy,Vol. 101B, No. 3, 165 – 185)

King, J.L., Marnell, F., Kingston, N., Rosell, R., Boylan, P., Caffrey, J.M., FitzPatrick, Ú., Gargan, P.G., Kelly, F.L., O’Grady, M.F., Poole, R., Roche, W.K. & Cassidy, D. (2011) Ireland Red List No. 5: Amphibians, Reptiles & Freshwater Fish. National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Dublin, Ireland.

Kottelat, M. and J. Freyhof, 2007. Handbook of European freshwater fishes. Publications Kottelat, Cornol, Switzerland. 646 p.

Maitland P.S., (2003). Ecology of the River, Brook and Sea Lamprey. Conserving Natura 2000 Rivers Ecology Series No. 5. English Nature, Peterborough

Maitland, Peter S., (2004). Keys to the Freshwater Fish of Britain and Ireland With Notes on Their Distribution and Ecology. The Freshwater Biological Society, Cumbria.

NPWS (2013) The Status of EU Protected Habitats and Species in Ireland.  Species Assessments Volume 3. Version 1.0. Unpublished Report, National Parks & Wildlife Services. Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Dublin, Ireland.

NatureServe 2013. Petromyzon marinus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 04 November 2014.

Renaud, C.B., 1997. Conservation status of Northern Hemisphere lampreys (Petromyzontidae). J. Appl. Ichthyol. 13(3):143-148.





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