Hatchery Programs

Hatchery programs are managed efforts to breed and raise fish or other aquatic species in controlled environments before releasing them into the wild. These programs aim to bolster wild populations, support commercial and recreational fishing, and restore endangered species. Typically, eggs are collected from wild or captive sources, incubated, and the young fish are cared for in hatcheries until they reach a suitable size for release. While they can improve population numbers, hatchery fish may sometimes have differences from wild fish, affecting their survival and integration into natural ecosystems.