Title 16ConservationRelease 119-73not60

§760aa Findings and Purposes

Title 16 › Chapter 9B— NATIONAL FISH HATCHERY SYSTEM ENHANCEMENT › § 760aa

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

Recognizes that the National Fish Hatchery System has more than 60 hatcheries, seven fish technology centers, nine fish health centers, and other offices. It helps recover more than 50 threatened and endangered species and restore over 100 native species. It supplies healthy fish for recreational fishing and works with over 250 partners to reduce habitat loss and fight invasive species. Many facilities are old, some from the late 1800s, and their pumps, pipes, filters, and treatment systems must run and be maintained 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Goals are to encourage volunteers to help the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service run hatcheries, to build non‑Federal partnerships and public education so people join conservation efforts, and to encourage donations and other contributions to support the System.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §760aa

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Congress finds the following:
(1)The National Fish Hatchery System (in this chapter referred to as the “System”)—
(A)consists of more than 60 hatcheries, seven fish technology centers, 9 fish health centers, and other fisheries program offices;
(B)plays an integral role in the recovery of more than 50 threatened species and endangered species and the restoration of over 100 native species;
(C)provides healthy fish populations that support recreational fishing opportunities, many of which are related to Federal water control structures; and
(D)works with over 250 partners to help mitigate the impacts of aquatic habitat loss and invasive species.
(2)The System faces many challenges, including aging facilities, some of which date back to the late 1800s, and maintenance of intensive infrastructures such as wells, pumps, valves, pipes, filters, heaters, chillers, and treatment systems that must keep clean water moving 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
(3)By encouraging volunteer programs and donations and fostering non-Federal partnerships with hatchery facilities, Federal funding for the hatcheries can be supplemented.
(4)By encouraging hatchery educational programs, public awareness of the resources of the System and public participation in the conservation of aquatic resources can be promoted.
(b)The purposes of this chapter are the following:
(1)To encourage the use of volunteers to assist the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in the management of hatcheries within the System.
(2)To facilitate partnerships between the System and non-Federal entities to promote public awareness of the resources of the System and public participation in the conservation of those resources.
(3)To encourage donations and other contributions by individuals and organizations to the System.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Short Title

Pub. L. 109–360, § 1, Oct. 16, 2006, 120 Stat. 2058, provided that: “This Act [enacting this chapter] may be cited as the ‘National Fish Hatchery System Volunteer Act of 2006’.”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 760aa

Title 16Conservation

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60