Ecosystem managers confronted with newly invasive species may respond with a program of suppression or eradication. Suppression of an invasive species refers to management of a species such that its effect on other biota in the local ecosystem is acceptable. Eradication is the removal of all individuals of a species from a defined region. We examine the cost and benefit trade-offs between suppression and eradication of Laurentian Great Lakes sea lampreys (Petromyzon marinus) based on discussions at the 3rd Sea Lamprey International Symposium (held in 2019). Substantial effort has been expended annually since the 1960s to suppress sea lampreys in the Great Lakes basin. Choosing between suppression and eradication is a value judgement, ideally made jointly by scientists, decision-makers, stakeholders, and society. Successful large-scale eradications have been limited to a small number of cases for which the cost to human society justified and supported the long-term commitment necessary for success. The greatest challenge to successful eradication of sea lampreys from the Great Lakes may be a suitable social, political, legal, and institutional environment. Preparations could be made now for a transition in which public pushback on current control methods (pesticide applications and barriers to fish passage) leads to more extensive use of an alternative control method, such as genetic control.

面对新入侵物种的生态系统管理者可能会制定抑制或消除方案。入侵物种的抑制是指对某种物种的管理，以使其对当地生态系统中其他生物群的影响可以接受。根除是指将某个物种的所有个体从定义的区域中移除。我们研究了在劳伦式大湖sea鱼（Petromyzon marinus）的压制和根除之间的成本和收益之间的取舍）基于第三届Sea Lamprey International Symposium（于2019年举行）的讨论。自1960年代以来，每年都在花费巨大的精力来抑制大湖盆地的海鳗。在压制和消除之间进行选择是一项价值判断，理想情况下，应由科学家，决策者，利益相关者和社会共同做出判断。成功的大规模根除仅限于少数案例，在这些案例中，人类社会付出了合理的代价，并支持了成功所必需的长期承诺。成功地从五大湖中消除海鳗的最大挑战可能是适当的社会，政治，法律和体制环境。