Fish Hatcheries in BC

Established in 1979, the Canadian Salmonid Enhancement Program has employed many strategies to increase the freshwater survival of coho, chinook, and chum salmon in British Columbia. A major cornerstone of this work includes the establishment of fish hatcheries along many major rivers, along with the development of fishways and spawning channels.

Fish hatcheries are mostly open to the public year-round and provide excellent opportunities for volunteering, education and salmon/wildlife viewing.

In BC, there are eighteen major hatchery facilities and spawning channels run by DFO, in addition to Community Economic Development Hatcheries, and volunteer-run facilities. Below you will find the directory of DFO-managed facilities which can also be located in Google Maps. 

DFO Hatchery Directory

Big Qualicum Hatchery
Qualicum Beach, Vancouver Island

Capilano River Hatchery
North Vancouver

Chehalis River Hatchery
Harrison Mills

Chilliwack River Hatchery
Chilliwack/Sardis

Conuma River Hatchery
Gold River/Tahsis

Fulton River Spawning Channel
Granisle

Inch Creek Hatchery
Mission

Kitimat River Hatchery
Kitimat

Little Qualicum Hatchery
Qualicum Beach, Vancouver Island

Nadina River Spawning Channel
Houston

Nitinat River Hatchery
Port Alberni, Vancouver Island

Pinkut Creek Spawning Channel
Burns Lake

Puntledge River Hatchery
Courtenay, Vancouver Island

Quinsam River Hatchery
Campbell River, Vancouver Island

Robertson Creek Hatchery
Port Alberni, Vancouver Island

Rosewall Hatchery
Fanny Bay, Vancouver Island

Snootli Creek Hatchery
Bella Coola

Spius Creek Hatchery
Merritt

Tenderfoot Creek Hatchery
Squamish

Weaver Creek Spawning Channel
Harrison Mills