Rhode Island Fish Hatchery

A fish hatchery helps to contribute to the provision of food and fish resources in a nation. Rhode Island Fish hatcheries are facilities used for the artificial production of fish in a cultured environment. Fish eggs are hatched and cultured under artificial conditions. This process is done for reasons such as conservation purposes, breeding rare and endangered species under controlled conditions, and economic purposes, for the enhancement of food supplies. Production is usually done en mass.

In Rhode Island, the Division of Fish and Wildlife of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RI DEM) is in charge of managing and coordinating the stocking program for recreational fishing. The department also runs a fish restoration program where salmonids are stocked in the freshwater ponds, lakes, rivers, and streams in Rhode Island. Four hatcheries under this department annually produce 150,000 fish at 1.2-1.3 pounds per fish. They include the Lafayette fish hatchery, Carolina trout hatchery, Perryville trout hatchery, and Arcadia warm water hatchery. These four hatcheries culture rainbow (Oncorhynchus mykiss), Book trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), Brown trout (Salmo trutta), and Atlantic Salmon (Salmo solar), with Lafayette fish hatchery as the biggest of all the four hatcheries. three of these hatcheries specialize in culturing trout while the last hatchery cultures and stocks Atlantic salmon

Lafayette Trout Hatchery (LTH)

LTH is located in North Kingstown, RI. It is the largest of the other hatcheries involved in the restoration program. Fish eggs are cultured here until they are finally stocked in the different water bodies of the state. It helps to provide management services as well as incubation services to the other three hatcheries. In LTH, fertilized eggs are purchased from a supplier outside the state and cultures the majority of the fry, sending the rest off to the other hatcheries. The LTH, just like the Pettaquamscutt Rock in south Kingstown, makes for a nice touring site, with about 53 acres of land to cover and many thousands of fish to make your visit a wonderful one. As a bonus to the cool water-loving trout, the location of the LTH was the best site because of the natural clear water that came from the ground at 25 different spots, maintaining a 47-degree temperature even in August.

The LTH is open for a visit from 8:00 in the morning till 3:00 at noon throughout the week, Monday through Friday. People visiting are advised to also visit the local library to get books that talk about birds and animals’ footprints. This is an exciting bonus because the area is populated with animals with interesting footprints. You don’t want to miss out on all the fun, remember to

Carolina Trout Hatchery

This is the oldest of the four hatcheries for growing rainbow trout and brown trout in outdoor raceways. they are also involved in helping children and adults learn by providing educational and recreational programs at their Aquatic Resources Educational Training Pond.

Perryville Trout Hatchery

This hatchery is the smallest of all the hatcheries that raise brown trout received from LTH as fry fish. It is located at Wakefield, South Kingstown where the fish fry is raised and cultured in outdoor raceways and earthen ponds until they are due for stocking.

Arcadia Warmwater Hatchery

This, unlike the other hatcheries, is involved in culturing Atlantic salmon. This facility was formerly involved in culturing American shad, Golden shiner, Largemouth bass, and Smallmouth bass. It is located in Hope Valley and is owned federally and leased to the state of Rhode Island.

Need A Break?

The Division of Fish and Wildlife Hatchery stocks all the water bodies in Rhode island with thousands of trout every spring, just in time for trout fishing season in April. This allows anglers to enjoy their breaks, relax with friends and family and enjoy the scenery after a winter of being shut indoors.