What’s the difference between wild fish and hatchery fish?
Fish raised in hatcheries are usually marked by removing the adipose or ventricle fins. The adipose fin is the small “fatty” fin on top of the fish between the dorsal fin and tail. Every salmonid also has a pair of ventricle fins on its “belly,” between the pectoral fin and the tail. Small wire ID tags are sometimes inserted into the nose of a hatchery fish to allow state and tribal fisheries managers to track its age, where it was born, and when it was released into the wild. Although Washington State boasts the largest hatchery production system in the world, hatchery fish have contributed to the decline of wild fish through genetic impacts, increased competition, and disease transmission. Others factors of decline include habitat degradation and loss, over harvest, dams, land use practices, and wasteful water practices.
Fish raised in hatcheries are usually marked by removing the adipose or ventricle fins. The adipose fin is the small “fatty” fin on top of the fish between the dorsal fin and tail. Every salmonid also has a pair of ventricle fins on its “belly,” between the pectoral fin and the tail. Small wire ID tags are sometimes inserted into the nose of a hatchery fish to allow state and tribal fisheries managers to track its age, where it was born, and when it was released into the wild.
