National Fish Hatchery System
Stored: National Fish Hatchery System
| Type | Program |
|---|---|
| Sponsor Organization | Fish and Aquatic Conservation Program |
| Top Organization | Department of the Interior |
| Creation Legislation | An Act to Create a U.S. Fish Commission of 1871 |
| Website | Website |
| Purpose | The National Fish Hatchery System raises and stocks fish to conserve aquatic species and support sustainable fisheries nationwide. It aims to recover threatened and endangered species, mitigate federal dam impacts, and fulfill tribal trust responsibilities. |
| Program Start | 1871 |
| Initial Funding | $15,000 |
| Duration | Ongoing |
| Historic | No |
National Fish Hatchery System (NFHS) is a Department of the Interior initiative led by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Fish and Aquatic Conservation Program that operates 70 national fish hatcheries, nine fish health centers, and seven fish technology centers across the United States, raising and stocking over 126 million fish and aquatic wildlife annually as of 2023 to bolster conservation, recreation, and tribal subsistence fisheries.
Established in 1871 by Congress, it has released more than 1 billion fish since its inception, conserving over 121 aquatic species—including threatened and endangered ones like pallid sturgeon and Lahontan cutthroat trout—supporting 57 tribes with 20 million fish, and enhancing recreational fishing at 340+ wildlife refuges, with 2025 efforts advancing bison conservation and post-Helene recovery like trout transfers to the Cherokee Nation.
Goals
- Recover federally listed threatened and endangered aquatic species.[1]
- Support sustainable recreational and tribal subsistence fisheries nationwide.
- Mitigate fishery losses from federal water projects and conserve biodiversity.
Organization
The National Fish Hatchery System is sponsored by the Fish and Aquatic Conservation Program within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, under the Department of the Interior, headquartered at 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, Virginia.[2] Funding comes from Congressional appropriations, with FY 2023 at $46.5 million, supporting over 1,000 staff across 70 hatcheries, nine health centers, and seven technology centers, managing propagation, health monitoring, and research, collaborating with states, 57 tribes, and partners like the Aquatic Animal Drug Approval Partnership.
The leader at the Department of the Interior level is the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, currently Martha Williams (as of February 20, 2025), with NFHS overseen by the Assistant Director for Fish and Aquatic Conservation, David Hoskins.
History
The National Fish Hatchery System was established by the An Act to Create a U.S. Fish Commission of 1871, signed into law on February 9, 1871, by President Ulysses S. Grant, initially tasked with addressing fishery declines through propagation.[3] Starting with Baird Hatchery in 1872, it expanded to 136 facilities by 1940, shifted focus post-ESA (1973) to endangered species recovery, and by 2025, has stocked over 126 million fish annually (2023 data), with milestones like 2022’s 150th anniversary and 2024’s post-Helene trout transfers, adapting to modern conservation needs.
Funding
Initial funding in 1871 was $15,000 from Congressional appropriations to establish the Fish Commission.[4] Funding began in 1871 and continues, with FY 2023 at $46.5 million supporting over 126 million fish stocked, supplemented by excise taxes on fishing equipment via the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program, with no end date as appropriations sustain operations like 2025’s $5 million Species Conservation efforts.
Implementation
The program is implemented through 70 hatcheries raising species like salmon and sturgeon, nine health centers monitoring diseases, and seven technology centers advancing genetics and nutrition, releasing fish to support wild populations and recreation.[5] It operates continuously with no end date, engaging states, tribes, and partners, with 2025 efforts enhancing post-Helene recovery and bison conservation via agreements with Canada and Mexico.
Related
- National Fish Passage Program
- Fish and Aquatic Conservation Program
- Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program
External links
- https://www.fws.gov/program/national-fish-hatchery-system
- https://www.fws.gov/program/fish-and-aquatic-conservation - Fish and Aquatic Conservation
- https://www.doi.gov/ - Department of the Interior Overview
- wikipedia:National Fish Hatchery System
Social media
References
- ↑ "National Fish Hatchery System Overview," U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, https://www.fws.gov/program/national-fish-hatchery-system, accessed February 19, 2025.
- ↑ "Fish and Aquatic Conservation," U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, https://www.fws.gov/program/fish-and-aquatic-conservation, accessed February 19, 2025.
- ↑ "NFHS History," U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, https://www.fws.gov/program/national-fish-hatchery-system/about-us, accessed February 19, 2025.
- ↑ "National Fish Hatchery System," Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Fish_Hatchery_System, accessed February 19, 2025.
- ↑ "NFHS By the Numbers 2023," U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, https://www.fws.gov/story/2024-01/national-fish-hatchery-system-numbers-2023, accessed February 19, 2025.