Natchitoches National Fish Hatchery
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The Natchitoches National Fish Hatchery is a federal, warm water fish hatchery located in Natchitoches, Louisiana, United States. Natchitoches is involved in spawning, hatching and rearing young fish.[1]
Facilities
[edit]Natchitoches National Fish Hatchery is along the Cane River and has 53 ponds, each approximately 0.8 acres (3,200 m2) in area.[2] In addition, the facility has the Harold B. Wales Environmental Education Classroom, which is used for kindergarten through twelfth grade and for teacher workshops.[3] The classroom seats 32 students and has 16 student grade dissecting microscopes.[4]
The fish
[edit]Natchitoches handles six species of fish, in addition to the Alligator snapping turtle and the Louisiana pearlshell mussel.
Paddlefish
[edit]The paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) is the only remaining member of the family Polyodontidae.[5] Paddlefish are spawned and raised at Natchitoches until they are approximately six to ten inches (254 mm) in length, before they are released into the wild.[6]
Striped bass
[edit]Striped bass (Morone saxatilis) are members of the sea bass family. Natchitoches National Fish Hatchery is working to restore the historical range and population levels of these fish.[7]
Pallid sturgeon
[edit]The Pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus) is a member of the sturgeon family. The hatchery is working to develop spawning and culture techniques to raise a large number of Pallid sturgeon.[8] Workers at the hatchery hope to raise enough of these fish to take the species off of the Endangered Species List.[9]
Channel catfish
[edit]The Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) is a member of the family Ictaluridae. Natchitoches works to raise many of these fish for release into the wild.
Largemouth bass
[edit]The Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) is the most desired of all freshwater game.[10] Because of this, these bass require the attention of resource management agencies. Natchitoches National Fish Hatchery raises over 1 million largemouth bass every year.
Bluegill
[edit]The Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) is a fish that is quite easy to catch. The hatchery raises many of these fish every year.
References
[edit]- ^ http://www.fws.gov/natchitoches/what.html
- ^ http://www.fws.gov/natchitoches/what.html
- ^ http://www.fws.gov/natchitoches/envi.html
- ^ http://www.fws.gov/natchitoches/envi.html
- ^ http://www.fws.gov/natchitoches/what.html
- ^ http://www.fws.gov/natchitoches/what.html
- ^ http://www.fws.gov/natchitoches/what.html
- ^ http://www.fws.gov/natchitoches/what.html
- ^ http://www.fws.gov/natchitoches/what.html
- ^ http://www.fws.gov/natchitoches/what.html