“The Fish Thief” Movie Viewing

Earth Week Plus presents the award-winning documentary film, THE FISH THIEF: A Great Lakes Mystery on Tuesday, May 6, 6:00 pm at the Cheboygan Public Library.

THE FISH THIEF, narrated by Oscar-winner J.K. Simmons, is an award-winning documentary film that tells the remarkable true story of the fight to save the Great Lakes fishery from one of the most destructive invasive species: the sea lamprey. The sea lamprey’s incursion into the Great Lakes in the mid-1900s decimated populations of lake trout, whitefish, and other species that were integral to the region’s economy and way of life. Sea lamprey, often called “the vampires of the Great Lakes” attach themselves to fish and survive by sucking their blood.

THE FISH THIEF outlines the devastation caused by invasive sea lampreys and the relentless effort of scientists, fishers, and politicians to find a solution. Without sea lamprey control, which is an ongoing effort, we would not have the bustling multibillion- dollar fishery that we have today.

The King family in Cheboygan has a connection to the lamprey control effort. Kathy King Johnson’s father worked at the research facility, Hammond Bay Biological Station for years. He was a researcher studying possible lampricides, and other methods, to control the invasive species. Kathy King Johnson will be at the program to tell some of the stories she heard from her dad about his work at the research facility.

Tour the Hammond Bay Biological Station on Saturday, May 31, 11:00 am. See

the lamprey research facility. Reservation required as space is limited. Call Margaret at 989-734-4768 X112 or email .