Each year, DEC releases over one million pounds of fish into more than 1,200 public streams, rivers, lakes and ponds across the state. These fish are stocked for two main purposes: to restore native species to waters they formerly occupied and to enhance recreational fishing.
Built in 1980, the Salmon River Fish Hatchery specializes in raising Chinook salmon, coho salmon, steelhead, and brown trout. The hatchery was constructed to revive and enhance the Great Lakes fishery and now provides most of the fish for the multi-million dollar Lake Ontario salmonid fishery. Each year this hatchery stocks over 1.4 million Chinook salmon fingerlings (young fish 3-5 inches long), 155,000 coho salmon fall fingerlings (3-5 inches), 90,000 coho salmon yearlings (a fish between one and two years old), and 750,000 steelhead yearlings.
Located in Altmar, NY, the Salmon River Fish Hatchery supplies fish for more than 100 public waters including Lake Ontario. Each year, the hatchery stocks approximately 3.5 million trout and salmon, and helps with local warm water fish stockings. Most fish are stocked directly into the designated water via truck. Occasionally boats or aircraft are used to stock fish at a specific offshore location.
Raising Fish in the Salmon River Hatchery
Fish raised at the Salmon River Hatchery come from a variety of sources. Steelhead, chinook salmon, and coho salmon all develop from eggs taken from wild broodstock that return to the hatchery to spawn. Brown trout raised here are transferred in as fingerlings from other DEC hatcheries.
Pacific salmon (Chinook and Coho) and steelhead eggs are placed in special incubators that are supplied with a constant flow of water. The water temperature is what determines the amount of time it takes for the eggs to develop. Shortly after the eggs hatch, the sac fry are transferred into rearing units.
At first, these tiny fry are nourished by the yolk sac that protrudes from their abdominal region. After most of the yolk sac has been absorbed, the fry are ready to feed and a dry starter diet is provided. Since dry diets are available in a variety of food sizes, the size can be increased accordingly as the fish continue to grow. The amount of food to be fed each day is also adjusted as necessary to assure optimum growth and development. To ensure the fish grow properly and stay healthy, routine samples of the fish are taken to assess rate of growth and overall condition. In addition, fish are monitored daily for any health problems that may occur.
Interestingly, water is a key component in raising fish. On average, the Salmon River Fish Hatchery uses a water flow of approximately 10,000 gallons per minute from wells and a local reservoir. Water temperatures range from 34 to 74 degrees Fahrenheit due to seasonal fluctuations.
The Pacific salmon raised at the Salmon River Hatchery have other common names anglers call them. Chinook are often referred to as "kings" or "king salmon" because they are the largest. Cohos are referred to as "silvers" because they are so silver as they head into the rivers, before the males turn pinkish and females darken.
What You Can See at the Hatchery
Various life stages of fish are present at the hatchery throughout the year.
Spawning process (where eggs are taken from mature female fish and fertilized by mature male fish)
- Pacific Salmon: mid- through late October
- Steelhead: late March through early April
Eggs hatch out into sac fry
- Pacific Salmon: late November
- Steelhead: mid-May
Small fish live in the hatchery until they are transported for stocking
- Chinook salmon as fingerlings during their first spring (on average 5 months after hatching)
- Coho salmon as yearlings during their second autumn (on average 15 months after hatching)
- Steelhead as yearlings during their first spring (on average 12 months after hatching)
Accessible Features
From the Hatchery Parking Area in the Village of Altmar, wheelchair accessible features include the:
- Viewing area
Visit the DEC Accessible Recreation Destinations web page for additional accessible recreation opportunities.
Hatchery Location
The Salmon River Fish Hatchery is located on County Route 22, one mile northeast of the Village of Altmar, Oswego County. The hatchery is open to the public roughly April 1st to November 30th (weather permitting - call the hatchery for the official opening & closing dates), 8:30 am to 3:30 pm daily. Tours for organized groups may be arranged in advance by calling
315-314-0768 or emailing the [email protected].
For more information on this and any of the other DEC hatcheries, you can contact the hatchery directly at 2133 County Route 22, Altmar, NY 13302, 315-298-5051 or contact any of the DEC's regional fisheries offices.
