The Economic Impacts of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Hatchery Production and Distribution

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service operate 70 National Fish Hatcheries (NFH) across the U.S primarily for the purpose of mitigating the effects of Federal dams and water projects on fish migration and spawning. In a typical year over 100 million fish are produced and released in a variety of waterbodies. These hatchery stockings provide recreational angling opportunities which have a significant economic impact on local communities and regions.  A series of reports between 2000 and 2008 estimated the economic impact of NFH production and stocking using a variety of methods to estimate fish utilization and expenditures associated with angling for NFH produced and stocked fish. These initial expenditures in turn generated a number of economic impacts including jobs, job income, and local, state and federal tax revenue. 

Three of these reports will be summarized as to methodology and results: (1) The Economic Effects of Pacific Northwest National Fish Hatchery Salmon Production: Four Mid-Columbia River Hatcheries; (2) USFWS Southeast Region Warm Water Hatcheries: The Economic Effects of the Recreational Use of National Fish Hatchery Stocking: 2002 – 2005; and (3) The Economic Effects of the Recreational Use of National Fish Hatchery 2004 Stocking in Region 6 (Mountain - Prairie Region).