The Nashua National Fish Hatchery is one of the oldest national fish hatcheries still operating today, established in 1898. Programs at the hatchery support Atlantic salmon, landlocked salmon, American shad and other aquatic species restoration efforts in many New England waterbodies.

Visit Us

Interior view of a raceway at Nashua NFH
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Visit Us:
The hatchery is located at:

151 Broad Street

Nashua, New Hampshire 03063

Phone: 603-595-0891

Directions: The Nashua National Fish Hatchery is located off of Exit 6, along the Everett Turnpike, right across from the Nashua Mall.

Location and Contact Information

      About Us

      Adult Male Atlantic Salmon
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      We are one of the oldest federal fish hatcheries in the country, established in 1898. Originally, the station produced rainbow, brook, and brown trout for stocking the rivers and lakes of New England. The hatchery also shipped trout eggs across the country for other hatchery programs. In 1978, the hatchery began producing Atlantic salmon for the Merrimack River Restoration Program. Today, the hatchery still produces Atlantic salmon but these are stocked out only in Maine. The hatchery also raises landlocked Atlantic salmon for stocking inland lakes, American shad, and brook trout for restoration efforts in many New England. 

      Tours

      Free guided tours are available Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., as hatchery staff workload and schedules allow. Please schedule tours in advance by calling 603-595-0891.

      What We Do

      Stocking shad at a boat ramp
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      Stocking American shad at a boat ramp

      The next time you go fishing, you might just catch a fish that was raised at our hatchery!  Landlocked Atlantic salmon, American shad, and round whitefish are raised here and stocked in reservoirs, lakes, rivers and coastal streams across New England. We also produce several hundred brook trout annually for local fishing derbies, outreach, and educational events. 

      Our Organization

      Juvenile Northern Pike in aquarium at Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery, South Dakota
      The Fish and Aquatic Conservation program leads aquatic conservation efforts for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. We are committed to tackling the nation’s highest priority aquatic conservation and recreational challenges to conserve, restore, and enhance fisheries for future generations.
      Program
      Falls Church,VA

      Our Species

      Nashua National Fish Hatchery raises Atlantic salmon, landlocked Atlantic salmon, American shad, brook trout, and round whitefish.

      Projects and Research

      Our hatchery raises a variety of fish species to stock the many rivers and lakes of New England. These species include landlocked Atlantic salmon, brook trout, American shad, and round whitefish. We also raise endangered sea-run Atlantic salmon to help recover populations in the Gulf of Maine.

      Biologist holding Atlantic salmon parr in their hand. The fish is approximately 5 inches long, with vertical dark banding marks.
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      Atlantic salmon at the Nashua National Fish Hatchery

      Atlantic salmon are endangered. Although, they once were abundant throughout New England rivers, they are presently only found in rivers in Maine. They are anadromous, meaning they spend most of their life in the ocean, but migrate back to freshwater rivers where they were hatched to spawn (reproduce). After a long migration from the Atlantic ocean, salmon return to the rivers to...

      Atlantic salmon at the Nashua National Fish Hatchery