Can we do it? Should we do it? The CRISPR/Cas system is a cutting edge technology that presents new opportunities for managing invasive sea lamprey in the Great Lakes. Traditional methods, such as barriers and lampricides, often face significant challenges—they can be costly, environmentally disruptive, and sometimes ineffective. CRISPR-Cas enables a promising alternative by allowing for precise genetic alterations, which could result in more effective and sustainable control of sea lampreys. Genetic control has the potential to both eradicate invasive sea lamprey and reduce the costs associated with current control options, but it also brings forward new challenges and unanswered questions. This session will explain the science of CRISPR/Cas, provide strategies for effective science education, and emphasize the importance of integrating both Indigenous and Western science in environmental decision-making. The presenters aim to offer a comprehensive understanding of how genetic control could transform sea lamprey management in the Great Lakes and will also begin discussions on addressing the associated challenges and uncertainties.

Chaired by:
Noah Gauthier¹, Margaret Docker², Jill Furgurson³

¹University of Ottawa, ²University of Manitoba, ³North Carolina State University

Corresponding chair: Noah Gauthier, ngaut035@uottawa.ca

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