About Hatcheries

Hatcheries are facilities where eggs of fish or poultry are hatched under artificial conditions. Hatcheries are primarily used as an aid in conservation efforts or to enhance food supplies. The fish and birds raised in hatcheries are either sold as food stock or released into the wild once they have matured. While there are many benefits to hatcheries, a number of concerns have been raised about their safety and effectiveness.

Function

Fish and poultry hatcheries are designed to mitigate changes to the environment that may endanger or reduce natural populations. These changes may include the necessary building of dams, the development of roads and buildings and other environmental alterations caused by manufacturing, construction or pollution. Hatcheries are used for a variety of reasons, including species preservation, harvest augmentation, population replenishment and scientific study. The specific function of an individual hatchery is based on its primary goal and the species being raised.

Types

Hatcheries are generally divided into two types: fish hatcheries, which are used to breed large amounts of fish in a short time in an enclosed environment, and poultry hatcheries, which produce the bulk of birds used for food in developed countries. Fish hatcheries, also known as fish farms, cultivate fish that are used primarily for food, thereby eliminating or reducing the need to fish in the wild. Fish farms raise fish from eggs and support them until they are ready to be sold, eaten or released into the wild. Juvenile fish that are released into rivers and lakes supplement the number of natural species that are endangered or threatened while supporting commercial and recreational fishing. Poultry hatcheries are a multi-billion dollar industry that seeks to maximize bird size to produce the greatest amount of food for the lowest expense. Most eggs in poultry hatcheries are artificially inseminated, grown in incubators and once hatched, moved to enclosed buildings until harvest. Chickens, turkeys and ducks are the species most frequently raised in poultry hatcheries.

Identification

Fish hatcheries are typically located outdoors and may include a number of artificial stream channels, similar to cattle troughs. Some newer fish hatcheries are designed to look like natural streams. Gravel and rocks are placed on the bottom of the channels, and plant life or tree limbs native to the fish species are added to the water. Most channels are open on top, allowing sun penetration. Water temperature is adjusted seasonally to mimic natural weather conditions. Poultry hatcheries vary tremendously in appearance, with most having both an open outdoor area and several enclosed buildings where adult birds are kept. Any outdoor areas are fenced to prevent the animals from escaping.

Benefits

Hatcheries assist in the conservation of threatened and endangered species by providing a safe and controlled environment for eggs and juveniles. Hatcheries reduce the impact of building and development on habitats and help maintain populations of wildlife at safe levels until negative factors that threaten wild habitats can be addressed and solved. Hatcheries also provide ideal conditions for the creation of large amounts of stock, which helps maintain or replenish food stocks for consumers.

Considerations

Many scientists and members of the public argue against hatcheries for several reasons. Some believe that hatcheries reduce natural genetic diversity as a result of inbreeding, and studies have shown that fish bred in hatcheries may spread disease to wild fish once released, thereby reducing natural populations instead of increasing them. Hatcheries may also produce fish that are unaccustomed to living in the wild, making them targets for predators and putting them at risk of starvation when left to seek natural sources of food. Animal activists have spoken out about the beak trimming and toe-clipping that often takes place in poultry hatcheries, calling it inhumane and unnatural. These procedures are performed to prevent the birds from harming each other while kept in cramped housing.