State fish hatcheries in Pennsylvania

Statewide Pennsylvania is home to 15 fish hatcheries. These hatcheries support the 500 million dollar fishing industry. Pennsylvania has a vast supply of both cold and warm water, home to more than 100 million juvenile fish like striped bass, walleye, catfish, muskellunge, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, pike and pickerel. Fish hatcheries provide recreational fishing spots where you are sure to catch, great for family trips. The 15 Pennsylvania fish hatcheries fuel tourism, employment and construction in rural areas. And most importantly, these state run hatcheries provide opportunity for recreational economic growth.

A hatchery is a facility where eggs are hatched under artificial conditions. Pennsylvania Fish hatcheries are used to cultivate and breed a large number of fish in an enclosed environment. A hatchery will take a female fish, release her eggs, and then add the male fish’s sperm, mix them and allow them to fertilize, where there is less risk of disease or being eaten. Pennsylvania hatcheries release the juvenile fish into the rivers and lakes for recreational fishing or to supplement the natural numbers of threatened or endangered species. Some fish hatcheries are used to mitigate the effects of a facility, such as a dam, hydroelectric plant or water diversion. There are over 10 hatcheries in Pennsylvania.

• Corry State Fish Hatchery: Originally constructed in 1876, the Corry Fish Culture Station (hatchery) is situated on approximately 10 developed acres (227 total acres divided among the main hatchery, the Annex and Foster Properties) of land owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and managed by the Fish and Boat Commission. FISH SPECIES PRODUCED: brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, golden rainbow trout
• Bellefonte State Fish Hatchery: The legendary Fishermans Paradise fishing area is located by the hatchery on Spring Creek. Originally constructed in 1933-34, the Bellefonte Fish Culture Station (hatchery) is situated on 100 developed acres (195 total acres) of land owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and managed
  by the Fish and Boat Commission. FISH SPECIES PRODUCED: brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, golden rainbow trout.
• Fairview State Fish Hatchery: Water is supplied to the facility from springs, a stream, and by pumped recirculation during peak biomass and low flow conditions. (hatchery) is situated on 50 developed acres (87 total acres) of land owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and managed by the Fish and Boat
  Commission.
• Benner Spring State Fish Hatchery: The site serves as headquarters for the Commission’s Division of Fisheries Research. Originally constructed in 1952, the Benner Spring Fish Culture Station (hatchery) is situated on 40 developed acres (49 total acres) of land leased from the Rockview State Correctional Institution.
• Linesville State Fish Hatchery: Water is supplied from Pymatuning Reservoir and production wells. Originally constructed in 1939, the Linesville Fish Culture Station (hatchery) is situated on 97 developed acres (2,500 total acres) of land owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and managed by the Fish and Boat Commission.
• Huntsdale State Fish Hatchery: Originally constructed in 1932, the Huntsdale Fish Culture Station (hatchery) is situated on approximately 80 developed acres (167 total acres) of land owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and managed by the Fish and Boat Commission.
• Oswayo State Fish Hatchery: Water is supplied to the facility by 2 springs that originate from a “non-limestone”
  aquifer. Originally constructed in 1968, the Oswayo Fish Culture Station (hatchery) is situated on approximately 14 developed acres (1,250 total acres) of land owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and managed by the Fish and Boat Commission.
• Pleasant Gap State Fish Hatchery: The hatchery grounds are part of the Commission’s Pleasant Gap complex, which houses administrative offices for the Bureaus’ of Fisheries and Engineering & Development, as well as the Northcentral Region Law Enforcement office.
• Pleasant Mount State Fish Hatchery: Originally constructed in 1903, the Pleasant Mount (originally called the Wayne Hatchery) facility consists of the main hatchery (70 acres), an off site Hankins portion (125 acres), and a Douglas portion (30.6 acres), all of which are owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and managed by the Fish and Boat Commission.
• Reynoldsdale State Fish Hatchery: Originally constructed in 1928, the Reynoldsdale Fish Culture Station (hatchery) is situated on 25 developed acres (130 total acres) of land owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and managed by the Fish and Boat Commission.
• Tionesta State Fish Hatchery: Originally constructed in 1928, the Tionesta Fish Culture Station (hatchery) is situated on 50 developed acres (387 total acres) of land owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and managed by the Fish and Boat Commission.
• Tylersville State Fish Hatchery: The Tylersville Fish Culture Station (hatchery) was originally constructed in 1963 by the United States Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and was closed in 1977. In 1984, the Commission entered into a lease agreement with the USFWS to maintain and operate the facility. The hatchery is located on approximately 80 developed acres (125 total acres) with 5,000 feet of concrete linear
  raceways.
• Union City State Fish Hatchery: Originally constructed in 1905, the Union City Fish Culture Station (hatchery) is situated on 14 developed acres (49 total acres) of land owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and managed by the Fish and Boat Commission.