Welcome to the Bears Bluff National Fish Hatchery

Bears Bluff National Fish Hatchery Sign. Credit: USFWS Image.

• Bears Bluff National Fish Hatchery consists of 31 acres bordering the North Edisto River south of Charleston, South Carolina.
• The hatchery is a unit of the Warm Springs Fish Technology Center, a component of the Warm Springs Regional Fisheries Center, Warm Springs, Georgia.
• Station has flexible and unique capabilities available to propagate and study most freshwater and saltwater aquatic species found in the South Atlantic Coastal Region.
• Facilities include nine recirculated intensive culture systems; three recirculated egg incubation/larval rearing systems; numerous holding and intensive rearing tanks; and six salt and freshwater ponds.
• Number of staff: four.
• The hatchery's primary area of concern is the south Atlantic coast.

Station Goals

Atlantic sturgeon. Credit: USFWS Image.

• Restore and manage interjurisdictional coastal and riverine fishes, such as the American shad, anadromous sturgeon, and red drum.
• Recovery of species listed under the Endangered Species Act, such as the shortnose sturgeon and candidate species such as the Atlantic sturgeon.
• Pioneer and develop culture techniques for both freshwater and saltwater species.
• Develop hatchery product evaluation techniques.
• Enhance and restore fish habitat in both coastal and freshwater systems.

Fish Species

Red drum fingerlings. Credit: USFWS Image.

• Atlantic sturgeon: Investigating reproduction and culture techniques.
• Red drum: Spawned on site, cultured in saltwater ponds, genetically tagged and released into South Carolina waters.
• Cobia: Investigating reproduction and culture techniques.
• Bonnethead Sharks: Investigating age and growth through chemical tagging techniques.
• American Shad: Restoration of stocks in the South Edisto River.

Services Provided To

Shortnose sturgeon fin spine marked with OTC. Credit: USFWS Image.

• Federal agencies including other Fish and Wildlife Service program offices.
• State agencies.
• Native American Tribes.
• Military bases.
• Universities.
• Non-governmental organizations (NGO’s).
• The public.

Kids' Fish for Fun Event. Credit: USFWS Image.

Public Use Opportunities

• Environmental education and outreach for tour groups and individual visitors.
• Informational kiosk installed to familiarize visitors with station and service goals.
• Remote location with beautiful preserved live oak and Spanish moss habitat provides excellent birding, wildlife watching and picnicking opportunities for the public.
• A variety of rare species can be viewed on the station (wood storks, brown pelicans, American alligator, bald eagle, etc.)
• Self-guided nature tour highlighting the South Carolina Lowcountry ecosystem.