About Us
Since 1898, Edenton National Fish Hatchery staff have produced warm water fish for public use, restoration, and/or threatened/endangered species recovery. All of our current fish programs are in cooperation with and supported by the state of North Carolina.
Hatchery staff have:
- Released millions of striped bass and American Shad into North Carolina waters.
- Reared many different species including blueback river herring, largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish, and mosquito fish.
- Recently reintroduced lake sturgeon to NC by releasing thousands of them into the French Broad River.
- More recently added conservation programs such as the Cape Fear and white shiners.
The hatchery is the largest striped bass producer in the entire National Fish Hatchery system.
Our Mission
Edenton National Fish Hatchery was initially established to supplement the populations of American shad, which had been overfished in the 1800s. The hatchery has produced blueback river herring, largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish, and many other species over its long history. Edenton National Fish Hatchery continues to produce fish for public use and restoration as it has for well over a century.
Our History
Congress established Edenton National Fish Hatchery in 1898. In 1900, hatchery staff collected 10 million American shad eggs, incubated their first batch of eggs and stocked more than 6 million shad larvae into local waters. In 1906, the staff hatched 2 million Atlantic striped bass eggs at a nearby Roanoke River facility. In the late 1950s, the hatchery moved to its current location due to limited space at its original site. At its new location, largemouth bass, channel catfish, bluegill, and redear sunfish were the major cultured species. During the 1960’s and 1970’s development of striped bass production became the focus at Edenton National Fish Hatchery. Within the last decade, the Agency added lake sturgeon, Cape Fear and white shiners, and gopher frogs to the long list of species cultured at the hatchery.