What We Do

The next time you go fishing, you might just catch a fish that was raised at Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery. Since 1871, National Fish Hatcheries have been responding to conservation challenges affecting America’s fish and other aquatic species. Producing fish continues to be an irreplaceable tool in managing or restoring fisheries along with habitat conservation. In doing so, we help provide recreation opportunities to America’s 34 million anglers who spend $36 billion annually in pursuit of their favored pastime. 

Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery produces fish to both help recover imperiled species and to increase sportfishing opportunities.  Our facility also serves as a refugia for some species (like Kendall Warm Springs Dace) and a source for scientific research fish.  

Management and Conservation

Endangered pallid sturgeon have been produced at our facility since 1997.  Since then, hundreds of thousands of these prehistoric fish have been released into the Missouri River. The hope is that one day they will form a self-sustaining population in the Missouri and Mississippi River basins. 

American paddlefish are a species we have worked with for decades.  These enormous filter feeders are native to the Missouri River but have struggled to adapt in areas impounded by the large dams constructed in the mid 20th century.  Our paddlefish production boosts the populations within those reservoirs.  In addition to being a very unique species, paddlefish are also an important sportfish in South Dakota. 

 A variety of sportfish are produced annually at our facility.  Some end up stocked into waters as close as 200 yards from our rearing ponds (Lake Yankton), others are shipped or hauled off as far as Nevada, Kansas, or Oklahoma.  Many of our bass and bluegill are used to maintain fisheries in tribal lakes in western South Dakota.  The majority of our walleye are typically stocked into Lewis and Clark Lake in partnerships with state agencies from Nebraska and South Dakota.  Each year is a little different based on the stocking requests we receive.  

Our hatchery serves as a refugia (or safe holding place) for one of North America's rarest species, the Kendall Warm Springs Dace.  This member of the minnow family is the only fish species to inhabit the 85° F spring water in one isolated 300m reach of the the Upper Green River in Bridger-Teton National Park (WY).  A small number of them are tucked away at our facility for safe keeping, along with some spawning research. 

We try to stay ahead of the curve, experimenting with rearing new species as time allows.  It can take years to determine what a particular fish needs to successfully reproduce and grow in captivity.  Getting a head start solving problems and developing methods before stocking requests arrive is preferred. Flathead chubs, blue catfish, and black sandshell mussels are three species that we have worked with recently. 

Our Projects and Research

We frequently provide fish, eggs or assistance to partner agencies conducting research.  This is especially true with the endangered pallid sturgeon, about which much is still unknown.  In particular, fish from our facility have helped with numerous studies designed to shed light on the first few weeks of life for this species.  We have also contributed to research focusing on things like sturgeon diets, genetic analysis, tagging methods and more.