Dexter NFHTC

Dexter National Fish Hatchery & Technology Center,
Credit: USFWS Photos

The Dexter National Fish Hatchery & Technology Center (Center) is located in the heart of the Pecos River Valley in southeastern New Mexico in Dexter.

The Center is home to a fully functional Fish Culture Facility, Molecular Echology Lab, and Fish Health Unit with state of the art equipment and field expertise.

The Center currently houses over 1 million fish from 15 different threatened and endangered fish species. The objective of the Center is to work with partners on reintroduction of species into their native habitat; improve the quality of fish reared through genetic research; maintain populations in the event of catastrophic loss in the wild.

History

• Established under the White Act of 1931, the Center opened its doors in 1932 to meet the demands of warm water game fish. The main focus of the facility was to supply local waterways with sport fish via rearing at the Center. 
  
  
• In 1973 the Endangered Species Act was established. In 1974, four endangered species were introduced to the Center. Currently we have 15 different species,often provding emergcy response and housing as many as 19 different species at any given time. In 1978 the Center’s mission was transformed from a facility that raised fish for recreational purposes to a facility that would house and protect endangered fish species.
  
  
• The Center in 1991 evolved into one of only seven technology centers; performing life history studies, creating new technology and carefully analyzing fish genetics. The success of reintroduction of endangered species into the wild is accredited partly to the uniqueness of the Center and its mission.
  
  
• In 2005, the facility was once again introduced to a new venue, adding a fish health unit. The Dexter Fish Health Unit monitors aquatic species health issues for the Southwest Region.