Grand Rapids Fish Hatchery
The Grand Rapids Fish Hatchery (GRFH) is located in the community of Grand Rapids, MB. Constructed in the early 1970’s by the province of Manitoba, the building was originally configured for production of Walleye, Whitefish and a variety of trout species. In 1994, GRFH began producing Lake Sturgeon for the Nelson River Sturgeon Board, in support of efforts to conserve upper Nelson River populations.
Manitoba Hydro purchased GRFH in 2007 and the facility was operated in partnership with Manitoba Sustainable Development through a Joint Management Committee. At the end of 2012, Manitoba Hydro assumed full operation of the hatchery and currently employs 7 permanent and 2 seasonal staff. Operations and regulatory matters are overseen by Manitoba Hydro’s Environmental Licensing and Protection Department. Building and equipment maintenance is conducted in partnership with the Grand Rapids Generating Station.
Since 2012, GRFH has focused its production efforts exclusively on Lake Sturgeon and Walleye. In addition to producing Lake Sturgeon for the Nelson River Sturgeon Board, GRFH began producing Lake Sturgeon for the Keeyask Generation Project in 2013. All production and stocking activities are conducted under the terms of Live Fish Handling Permits issued by Manitoba Sustainable Development.
To learn more about how the Grand Rapids Fish Hatchery operates, and the stocking programs it supports, watch the videos below!
Stocking Sturgeon
Hatchery for Conservation
The Grand Rapids Fish Hatchery, located in Grand Rapids, MB, raises Lake Sturgeon to support conservation stocking programs for the Nelson River Sturgeon Board in the upper Nelson River (upstream of Kelsey GS) and for the Keeyask Generation Project in the lower Nelson River (downstream of Kelsey GS). Eggs taken from wild fish are hatched and reared at the hatchery until being released as fingerlings (4 months old, in the fall) or yearlings (one year old, in the spring). These stocked fish are helping to recover wild populations that were impacted by commercial sturgeon fishing and habitat changes relating to hydroelectric development. In fact, the Nelson River Sturgeon Board, which has been stocking sturgeon raised at Grand Rapids Fish Hatchery since 1994, is seeing signs of recovery in some populations as a result of ongoing stocking efforts!
Summary of Lake Sturgeon stocking in the Keeyask area since 2014
Burntwood River
| Year | Larvae | Fingerlings | Age-1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | – | – | 595 |
| 2015 | – | – | – |
| 2016 | – | – | 23 |
| TOTAL | 0 | 0 | 618 |
Gull Lake (from Birthday Rapids to Gull Lake)
| Year | Larvae | Fingerlings | Age-1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 152,926 | 4,656 | – |
| 2015 | – | – | 423 |
| 2016 | 192,167 | 780 | – |
| TOTAL | 345,093 | 5,436 | 423 |
Stephens Lake
| Year | Larvae | Fingerlings | Age-1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | – | – | – |
| 2015 | – | – | 418 |
| 2016 | 175,534 | 9,579 | – |
| TOTAL | 175,534 | 9,579 | 418 |
Summary of Nelson River Sturgeon Board Stocking
1994 – October 2016, combined at all locations (Little Playgreen Lake, Sea Falls, Pipestone Lake, Jenpeg, Cross Lake, Duck Rapids and Landing River).
| Year | Larval | Age-0 | Age-1 | Age-2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | – | 1,025 | – | – |
| 1995 | – | 0 | – | – |
| 1996 | – | 0 | – | – |
| 1997 | – | 0 | – | – |
| 1998 | – | 487 | – | – |
| 1999 | – | 324 | – | – |
| 2000 | – | 5,301 | – | – |
| 2001 | – | 18,547 | – | – |
| 2002 | – | 3,362 | – | – |
| 2003 | – | 12,602 | – | – |
| 2004 | 1,300 | – | – | – |
| 2005 | – | – | – | – |
| 2006 | – | 1,756 | – | – |
| 2007 | – | 500 | – | – |
| 2008 | – | 469 | 471 | – |
| 2009 | – | 157 | 45 | – |
| 2010 | – | 1,144 | 2,009 | – |
| 2011 | – | 4,063 | 591 | – |
| 2012 | 11,000 | 21,000 | 478 | – |
| 2013 | 76,770 | 21,515 | 878 | – |
| 2014 | 372,055 | 10,193 | 1,159 | 51 |
| 2015 | 54,207 | 8,911 | 789 | – |
| 2016 | 30,143 | 5,299 | 1,270 | – |
| Total | 545,475 | 116,655 | 7,690 | 51 |
Videos
Watch a video about sturgeon rearing and stocking at Manitoba Hydro’s Grand Rapids Fish Hatchery.
Watch a video about the Nelson River Sturgeon Board.