Here are some facts about California hatcheries and impacts due to budget problems....



CALIFORNIA DFG FISH HATCHERY PROGRAM FACT SHEET (Feb. 6, 2004)


Background Information: The CDFG Fish Hatchery Program:


Operates 14 trout and 8 salmon and steelhead hatcheries statewide;


Produces and stocks 5.4 million fingerling, 1.4 million sub-catchable, and 7.4 million catchable-sized trout annually;


Supports approximately 10 million trout fishing days per year in California’s lakes and streams and over $3 billion in economic output;


Produces approximately 34 million Chinook salmon, 0.6 million coho salmon, and 2.7 million juvenile steelhead trout annually;


Supports commercial and sport salmon fisheries in the ocean and rivers, sport steelhead river fisheries, and Native American salmon river fisheries;


Provides for high public visitation and educational opportunities at all sites;


Provides live trout eggs for the California Aquarium Education Program in classrooms;


Generates significant fishing license sales for the DFG through fish stocking programs;


Spends $9.3 million annually on the trout hatchery program, of which 91% comes from sport fishing license sales;


Spends $5.3 million annually on the salmon and steelhead hatchery program, of which 80% comes from mitigation funds from water development agencies; and


Assists in restoration of native California salmon, steelhead and trout species.


Budget Reduction Impacts:


Overall budget cut of $2.6 million, resulting in closure of Mad River Salmon and Steelhead Hatchery, and potential closure of Merced River Salmon Hatchery, Mojave River Trout Hatchery and Hot Creek Trout Hatchery;


Loss of 44 positions, of which 27 are permanent hatchery workers and 17 are hatchery seasonal aides, representing 20% of the workforce;


40% reduction in trout hatchery operating budgets;


Reduction in trout stocking, ranging from 20% to 30% depending on the region, and loss of a major winter steelhead sport fishery in the Mad River within three years;


Cessation of stocking 1,080,000 Chinook salmon yearlings in the Klamath River;


Continued backlog of $15 million in hatchery capital outlay projects;


Unknown loss of revenue due to decreased fishing license sales;


Reduced public visitation and egg availability for classroom education projects; and


Significant negative impacts on local economies that depend on fish stocking.