Welcome to the Edenton National Fish Hatchery

The Edenton National Fish Hatchery, located in the historic port town of Edenton, North Carolina, has been producing fish for public use and restoration since the Hatchery was established in 1898. Enjoy your visit to our site,and be sure to plan a trip to learn more about our programs in person.

Hatchery Goals

• Provide American shad (Alossa sapidissima) for interjurisdictional fishery restoration of the Neuse River system.
• Provide Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis) for interjurisdictional fishery restoration of the Tar/Pamlico and Neuse River systems.
• Provide Blueback Herring (Alosa aestivalis) for interjurisdictional fishery restoration of the Chowan River system.
• Assist with production of imperiled Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) for restoration of the Tennessee and Cumberland River systems.
• Provide other species (largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish, etc) to State partners on an as needed basis.
• Provide technical assistance and research on culture and propagation of new and imperiled aquatic species.
• Provide fishery management assistance to National Wildlife Refuges in the Carolinas and Southeast Virginia.
• Provide fishery management assistance to other partners as needed.

Aerial photograph of Edenton National Fish Hatchery

Hatchery Quick Facts

• Established in 1898
• Six full time staff
• Hatchery size: 63.5 acres, 30 acres water
• Public Aquarium
• Warm water hatchery (the fish raised here do best in temperatures above 65 degrees Fahrenheit).
• Tagged fish from Edenton NFH have been caught off the Atlantic coastline from North Carolina to as far north as Massachusetts.