Mora National Fish Hatchery has been breeding and raising Gila trout since 1999. The hatchery is the only facility that now raises this rare fish. Current populations in active culture are lineages from the Main Diamond and South Diamond watersheds. Beginning in 2012, the hatchery began the process of developing breeding populations of the Whiskey and Spruce Creek lineages. These surviving populations can be severely impacted by natural events such as fire, flood, and drought, and the Mora National Fish Hatchery has the capability to provide refuge when necessary.
Visit Us
Open to the public, Mora National Fish Hatchery welcomes visitors to the hatchery for a close up view of the fish production process. With hundreds of visitors annually, the friendly dedicated staff will regularly be available to answer any questions while you explore the Visitor Center and take a short tour of the fish culture spaces.
Mora National Fish Hatchery is just one of the many field stations of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service whose mission is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.
Location and Contact Information
About Us
Since 1871 the National Fish Hatchery system has been at work improving recreational fishing and restoring aquatic species that are in decline, at risk, and are important to the health of our aquatic systems. Across the country the network of National Fish Hatcheries work with states and Tribes to conserve, restore and enhance the fish and aquatic resources of America for future generations.
Mora National Fish Hatchery has been breeding and raising Gila trout since 1999. The hatchery is the only facility that now raises this rare fish. Current populations in active culture are lineages from the Main Diamond and South Diamond watersheds. Beginning in 2012, the hatchery began the process of developing breeding populations of the Whiskey and Spruce Creek lineages. These surviving populations can be severely impacted by natural events such as fire, flood, and drought, and the Mora National Fish Hatchery has the capability to provide refuge when necessary.
What We Do
The next time you go fishing, you might just catch a fish that was raised at Mora National Fish Hatchery. Since 1871, National Fish Hatcheries have been responding to conservation challenges affecting America’s fish and other aquatic species. Producing fish continues to be an irreplaceable tool in managing or restoring fisheries along with habitat conservation. In doing so, we help provide recreation opportunities to America’s 34 million anglers who spend $36 billion annually in pursuit of their favored pastime.
Mora National Fish Hatchery produces Gila trout. The fish are stocked annually in reservoirs, lakes, rivers and coastal streams across the Gila.
Our Species
Gila trout were listed as endangered in 1973. Thanks to decades of conservation efforts they were downlisted to threatened in 2006, and a year later, select Gila trout populations were opened to angling for the first time in 50 years.