In 2023 the National Fish Hatchery System raised and stocked more than 126 million fish and aquatic wildlife for conservation!
For more than 150 years, national fish hatcheries have been raising fish and aquatic wildlife to improve sustainable recreational fishing, support fisheries that have been impacted by a federal dam, recover federally listed threatened or endangered species, fulfil our Tribal Trust responsibilities, and prevent at-risk species from becoming endangered.
Recreational and Subsistence Fish Stocking Program
Many states and Tribes rely on the National Fish Hatchery System to stock lakes and rivers with fish for sustainable recreational fishing and to support fisheries that have been impacted by a federal dam. In 2023, national fish hatcheries raised 118 million sport fish to support recreational fisheries.
The Fish and Aquatic Conservation program partners with Tribes to stock fish in Tribal waters and provide technical assistance for fish and wildlife resource management needs and on Tribal lands. We pursue these collaborative management efforts not just to fulfill our Tribal Trust responsibilities and to promote sustainable management of important Tribal fisheries and wildlife, but also to ensure the benefits of resource conservation are accessible to everyone. In 2023, national fish hatcheries distributed 20 million fish to Tribal lands and stocked 57 Tribal Reservations, Pueblos, and other Native American communities with fish for recreational and subsistence purposes.
Economic Impact of Boating and Fishing
Fishing and boating fund conservation, support local economies, and improve the physical, psychological, and social health of everyone. According to the 2022 National Survey of Hunting and Fishing, fishing and boating are an important cultural and economic driver across the country.
- 39.9 - Million people over 16 went fishing
- $99.4 - Billion spent by anglers on fishing-related expenses
Learn more about our fish stocking and distributions
