Spawning Sea lamprey

[Chas]

As I stood chatting by the side of the River Exe today, I noticed a large fish which I first thought was an eel but it was strangely blotchy. As I watched and it swam more in to the shallows, this "eel" turned out to be a Sea Lamprey about 3 feet long (yes really), showing its characteristic tail fin and down pointed head. I took lots of pictures which were not very good as you would expect but you can clearly see the 7 gill openings in one of them. It was obviously "nesting" because at times clouds of muddy water was thrown up and as they don't feed in fresh water then that's all it could have been doing. I also read that they spawn in the first 2 weeks of June. So.... Are they rare and does it need to be reported to any interested agencies, help would be appreciated.


Thanks.

[AndyC]

That is a very good photo of a spawning sea lamprey!
I've never got anything nearly that good.

There seem to be good numbers about on the Dorset Frome this year. I've seen about ten so far, some years I don't see any. I've also seen a salmon with a lamprey mark on it, the lazy things hitch a lift in on the salmon.

Whereabouts on the Exe was this?


Andy

[Chas]

The location was just south of the town in the Exeter Country park adjacent to the Double Locks Hotel. I will go back again at low tide and see if I can see more, I am sure that this is not going to be a one off. There must be others.