The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Essex County today jointly announced the continuation of a long-standing partnership to ensure ongoing fish stocking meets fisheries management objectives for publicly accessible trout waters in the county. DEC will continue to stock trout in Essex County waters following closure of the Essex County Fish Hatchery located in Crown Point next year. 

“The health of our fisheries is a top priority for DEC and our management goals for surveying and stocking trout waters provides anglers with quality fishing experiences in Essex County,” Regional Director Joe Zalewski said. “DEC staff worked closely with the County over the past year to plan a smooth transition following the hatchery’s closure to ensure DEC’s support of Essex County’s outstanding trout fishing opportunities.” 

“The decision to close the Essex County Fish Hatchery was not taken lightly,” Essex County Board of Supervisors Chairman Shaun Gillilland said. “However, this transition and partnership with DEC will allow the County to comply with the State’s water quality and trout management programs while still ensuring both our residents and visitors can continue to enjoy high-quality fishing opportunities across the County.” 

DEC will immediately assume stocking trout in eight ponded waters and six trout streams at up to 31 locations within Essex County and will evaluate other waters in the county for future stocking based on the DEC’s management guidelines. Specific allocations will be determined in coming months and posted on the DEC fish stocking website. 

The Essex County Fish Hatchery has been a cornerstone of the region's fishing community since it was originally constructed by New York State in the 1920s. The hatchery raised and stocked three species of trout — brook, rainbow, and brown — into local water bodies, supporting recreational fishing activities, including annual fishing derbies held by eight towns across Essex County. The hatchery, which was operated by Essex County since the mid-1980s, will cease its operations in 2026 as it is no longer economically feasible to continue rearing at historic production rates without costly upgrades to meet water quality standards. 

To reduce pollutant loading without expensive upgrades, the number of fish stocked by the Essex County Fish Hatchery declined from more than 60,000 fish in 2020 to an expected total of just over 19,000 fish in 2026. 

Historically, the Essex County Fish Hatchery supported local fishing derbies in Essex County towns, which rely on the annual stocking of fish for these events. A portion of Essex County occupancy tax dollars, previously allocated for the fish hatchery, will be reallocated to those towns that hosted fishing derbies. These funds will help these communities purchase fish from private hatcheries to continue offering these beloved events. 

For additional information, please contact the Essex County's Board of Supervisors Office at pressoffice@essexcountyny.gov or the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation at info.R5@dec.ny.gov.