Federal fish hatcheries could lose funding
WASHINGTON — In response to recent cuts in the federal budget, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed an $11 million reduction in National Fish Hatchery System funding, with $6 million coming from the account for operating mitigation hatcheries, according to an alert from KeepAmericaFishing.
If approved, the groups says the reduction will result in the closure of nine hatcheries, seven of which are located in the southeastern U.S., greatly reducing angling opportunity in the region.
“The impacts of these closures will hit both anglers and local economies hard, as the operations of these hatcheries help support over 3,500 jobs and have an annual economic impact of over $325 million,” the group said in its release.
The group is asking anglers to contact their members of Congress and ask them to restore the National Fish Hatchery System’s budget.
For more information, click here: Federal Recreational Fish Hatcheries are on the Chopping Block
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