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 Welaka
National Fish Hatchery |
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Welcome and Enjoy Your Visit!Over a century ago, it was recognized that conservation measures were necessary to maintain good fishing in our public waters. Fishing has probably always been American's leading form of outdoor recreation. The Welaka National Fish Hatchery is endeavoring to preserve this tradition for present as well as future generations of Americans. Community Fish Management -- Station Highlights
What We DoThe Welaka National Fish Hatchery was built in 1926 and originally operated by the State of Florida. In 1938 the hatchery was transferred to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Ponds are operated at two locations. Those ponds at headquarters, near the aquarium, are called the Welaka Unit, and a second group of ponds about three miles south of headquarters is called the Beecher Unit. The Beecher Unit is named for the spring that serves as the water supply. Beecher Spring has a flow of 4,000 gallons per minute at a constant temperature of 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Water for the Welaka Unit comes from a well 423 feet deep and from the St. Johns River. Location Map(95K) Warmwater HatcheryWelaka is a warmwater hatchery. That is, the species of fish raised here do best in summer water temperatures that reach 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. In it's 41 ponds, the facility raises between 4.5 to 5 million fish annually. Species vital to the fishery resources of Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and the coastal United States are raised here and stocked in cooperation with the various State game and fish agencies. Populations Declining!For a variety of reasons, many species of fish have shown a marked decline in populations over the last 20-30 years. Sport and commercial fishermen alike are experiencing dwindling catches of striped bass along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts. Annual catches in the 7,000 metric ton range (25-30 million dollars) dropped to less than 2,000 metric tons (4-5 million dollars) signaling a major problem within the striped bass fishery. While all the reasons for this decline are not entirely known, it is agreed that a combination including loss of habitat, construction of dams, dredging of rivers, over fishing and various forms of pollution are contributing and interwoven factors. Along with striped bass, other species such as shad, sturgeon, and red drum are also experiencing dwindling populations. These are anadromous or estuarine species, meaning they spend their lives along our coast in saltwater or in the case of anadromous fish, return once a year to freshwater to spawn. Because their ranges transcend local, state, and in some cases, national boundaries, concern for their well-being is a major activity for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Conservation measures are necessary in order to maintain healthy populations of these fish in our public waters. National fish hatcheries are helping to achieve these objectives by enhancing and restoring native populations for all to enjoy. Raising Striped BassTo elaborate on one species, the Welaka National Fish hatchery is part of a major national emphasis on restoring the Gulf Coast Striped Bass (also called rockfish). Adult stripers, captured from our rivers and reared at the hatchery, provide the eggs for the hatchery program. Once the eggs and milt (sperm) are taken, the adults taken from the wild are returned to their native waters. The fertilized eggs are incubated, and the larval fry that hatch from the eggs are cultured artificially. Newborn fish have their own food supply in an attached yolk sac. After this source is absorbed, the tiny fish are transferred to hatchery rearing ponds where they feed on a natural diet of microscopic organisms. Young striped bass are particularly vulnerable to pollution, starvation, and predators during these stages and in the wild, untold numbers are lost. However, on the hatchery the fish are protected and experience the best possible conditions for surviving. After 25 to 40 days, these fish grow to an average length of 2 inches and some are stocked at this size. Others are held and fed scientifically formulated diets to attain maximum growth. By the fall, these fish have reached a size of 6 to 8 inches and are ready for stocking. These larger fish are stocked into special areas of selected river systems and tributaries from which they originated. Fishery managers expect that these supplemental stockings will help restore depleted striped bass populations. A number of fish are tagged, enabling biologists to evaluate the success of the stocking programs. Station ProgramsGulf SturgeonThe Gulf sturgeon was listed as a threatened species on September 30, 1991. As permitted and identified as a recovery task. Welaka National Fish Hatchery is currently involved with hormonal induced spawning, development of an artificial feeding program. and the refinement of hatchery culture techniques that maximize production. These projects are identified in the Gulf Sturgeon Recovery/Management Plan and will significantly contribute to the recovery and eventual delisting of this species. All stocking of hatchery progeny will be under the guidance of the Recovery Plan with respect to disease controls, maintaining genetic diversity, and avoidance of accidental releases into unsuitable waters. Gulf Coast Striped BassThe restoration of interjurisdictional fish species is a priority identified by the Director-FWS. The Appalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint(ACF) river system is a major component in the restoration of this species. The System originates in north Georgia as the Flint river, connects to the Chattahoochee river, then forms Lake Seminole. Then becomes the Appalachicola river below Jim Woodruff Dam. Welaka NFH serves as the major spawning site for adult fish captured in the wild. This broodfish collection is a coordinated effort between Welaka NFH, Panama City Fisheries Resources Office, Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Division, and the Georgia DNR-Fisheries Division. Fish are spawned at Welaka NFH and the resulting fry are shipped to various facilities for grow-out. Welaka NFH also produces approximately 800,000 fish for stocking into the ACF system for the restoration of this species. Welaka NFH serves as the major producer of Gulf Coast striped bass. In addition to the hatchery's commitment of 850,000 Phase I fingerlings and 40,000 Phase II fish, this facility is responsible for producing 5,000,000 to 7,000,000 fry for shipment to Federal fish hatcheries in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, and Louisiana as well as several state operated facilities. This hatchery coordinates the shipment of wild broodstock with U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service personnel, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission, and the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. This facility maintains a small number of largemouth bass (Florida strain) for fingerling stockings on National Wildlife Refuges throughout the Southeast Region as well as for stocking several military bases. These programs are designed to enhance fishing opportunities on those Federal lands that have been identified as having a compatible fishery program with the primary function of the refuge/base. To aid in these fishing opportunities on Federal lands, Welaka NFH also maintains bluegill and redear sunfish broodstock. What can you do?Please visit our aquarium at the Welaka Unit. Aquarium Hours: 7am to 4pm daily.Fish raised at the hatchery as well as other native species of fish, amphibians and reptiles are on display, information and brochures pertaining to the hatchery and it's operation are also available at this location. Observation TowerLocated at the Beecher Unit for your use and convenience is an observation tower, interpretive information and a 0.75 mile nature trail. Many species of water birds can be observed in this area. Abuntant WildlifeSquirrels, raccoons, opossums,
rabbits, deer, turkey and an abundant variety of birds can be seen
throughout the year around hatchery. The scenic St. Johns River offers
sportsman an opportunity to fish in the "Bass
Capitol of the World". Group ToursSpecial group tours of the hatchery can be arranged with the Hatchery Manager. Additional InformationPlease direct questions and comments, via E-mail or telephone, to: Allan Brown Hatchery Manager Welaka National Fish Hatchery P.O. Box 130 Welaka, Florida 32193-0130 (386) 467-2374 fw4_fr_welaka@fws.gov Return to:
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