by Tim Delamatter

Created on: September 17, 2009   Last Updated: September 18, 2009

Fish Hatcheries have been around since the 1800's. Humans have realized from early on, fish is very important for food, income, and economic vitality. The Natives of the coastal regions of North America, would trade fish related products (i.e. Grease in British Columbia, salmon roe, or the tails of Sea Lions) for everything from arrowheads to leather.

Fishing has been big business in the World from then until now. In the Mountains of Asia, the Natives would catch their fresh water delicacies, and then go down the mountains to trade for rice, yarn, or other important products needed. In China it was the same way. The first reason a Chinese man saw another Country was because he was in search of fish.

Fishing; Commercial and Sport, is now a multi Billion dollar industry for most Nations of the world. From the Russian hinterlands, to the backwoods of Louisiana, to the Coast of Alaska, to the Bays of the Arctic. The Sport and Commercial Fisherman, have been in search of the best fishing areas for millenia.

Fish Hatcheries are trying to keep up but are fighting a losing battle in some instances. As some fishing stocks are decreasing in record numbers, from either overfishing, or unknown reasons. The Oceans, rivers, and lakes are literally running out of species of fish.

In the United States there are many fish hatcheries, and all have particular reasons to exist. Each usually focuses on one type of fish, be it salmon, trout, bass, koi, cod, or other depleted fish species. Over 70 of the Fish Hatcheries within the U.S., are run by the Government arm called appropriately, The Fish and Wildlife Service.

Most of the Hatcheries within this Government agency are dedicated to re-populating stocks of fished out, or destroyed habitat fisheries. The Hatcheries are funded by the government through a budget set aside for each program. Mostly this money comes from the fees taken for fishing licences, boat licenses, and other park related income.

In Canada there are also public Hatcheries connected with what is known as the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, or DFO. This program of Government Hatcheries was started mainly to re-stock Salmon population in British Columbia. It is called Salmonid Enhancement Program, and is funded mainly by fishing licenses, tourist fees for hotels and restaurants, and other DFO income generating programs.

The Canadian, and U.S. programs also rely heavily on the Communities they are in for help with man-power. Schools take field trips to the Hatcheries and see for themselves what types of fish are being re-populated, and the kids then in turn learn about conservation and the laws related to fishing.

There are also private fish Hatcheries, which consist mainly to supply fish farms, private ponds, or commercial fish. Mostly these hatcheries are regulated by the DFO (Canada), or Fish and Wildlife Service in the U.S. The funding for these hatcheries is mainly dependent on how many fish they send to their clients.

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