Fed Hatcheries Axed

Fish hatcheries—love ’em or leave ’em—are in a state of funding paralysis across the U.S., especially in the Southeast. Tennessee’s National Fish Hatchery, in Erwin, is one of nine federally-operated hatcheries slated for elimination in 2012.

“Six of the hatcheries that are set to close are located in the Southeast U.S. Hatchery manager John Robinette says the economic impact from those facilities is almost 300 million dollars, and the retail sales they generate at outfitters like Mahoney’s is more than 157 million dollars.”

And, “Even though the US Fish and Wildlife Service plans to cut those hatcheries out of their budget at a savings of 6.3 million dollars, their entire budget didn’t face an overall reduction. Their department is receiving a net increase of almost 48 million dollars.”

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