State wildlife officials to shut Northern California fish hatchery, citing costs
California wildlife officials will shut down a state-run fish hatchery in Humboldt County, ending more than 50 years of operations due to rising costs, aging infrastructure and federal limits on steelhead production. The Mad River Fish Hatchery, which raises a modest number of steelhead and rainbow trout and serves as an access point to the picturesque Mad River for recreation and fishing, will close in June after decades of financial challenges. … Because the Northern California steelhead found in the Mad River are federally protected as a threatened species, the hatchery is limited to raising only 150,000 fry per year under regulations meant to preserve the wild DNA of fish that breed naturally in the waterway, the agency said.
Other trout news:
- Lost Coast Outpost (Humboldt, Calif.): CDFW to close Mad River Fish Hatchery next month, citing budgetary woes and aging infrastructure
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife: News release: CDFW to end hatchery operations at Mad River Fish Hatchery in Humboldt County
- LAist: Rescued SoCal steelhead spawn new life after Palisades Fire. Here’s how to visit them
- FOX Weather: Video: Baby trout signal endangered species’ recovery after California Palisades Fire burns habitat
