Fish hatchery to hold open house

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife invites the public to visit Erie County's Castalia State Fish Hatchery, 7018 Homegardner Road in Castalia, on April 15 during an open house to learn more about its operations and purpose.

Hatchery open houses are free of charge, according to a news release.

The Division of Wildlife operates six state fish hatcheries, which raised and stocked more than 52 million fish in 2022.

Species raised in hatcheries

Sport fish species raised for stocking in public waters include cold-water fish (rainbow trout, steelhead and brown trout), cool-water fish (saugeye, walleye, yellow perch, and muskellunge) and warm-water fish (hybrid-striped bass, channel catfish, blue catfish and bluegill), said the release.

During each open house, Division of Wildlife staff will give tours and answer questions about fish production and fisheries management.

Guests will have the opportunity to learn about these hatcheries, view fish eggs and fry in production buildings, and watch older fish in ponds or raceways.

Stocking expands fishing opportunities statewide by bolstering fish populations where natural reproduction is insufficient or not possible for a particular species, according to the release.

Funding source

State fish hatchery funding is provided by the sale of Ohio fishing licenses and the Sport Fish Restoration Act.

Created in 1950, the Sport Fish Restoration program dedicates permanent funding to fishery conservation through federal excise taxes on sport fishing equipment, import duties on fishing tackle and pleasure boats and a portion of the gasoline fuel tax.