1660 Route 25A • Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724

About the Fish Hatchery & Aquarium

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The Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery closed its doors as a New York State fish hatchery on March 31, 1982. The following day it was reopened as a non-profit educational center by the Friends of the Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery, Inc. Its mission is to operate as an environmental education center and public aquarium that continues to raise and stock trout. We are proud to have the largest living collection of New York State freshwater reptiles, fishes and amphibians. The Hatchery is a fun place for your family to spend an afternoon together. Visitors can tour our two aquarium buildings and eight outdoor ponds, feed the hungry trout, and try our “Catch & Keep” fishing. Special events, such as Animal Passport Program and Hatching Turtle Day, offer the public an opportunity to learn more about the creatures that inhabit New York State’s natural environment.

Each year schools, scouts and other groups visit the Hatchery to learn about the freshwater ecosystems of New York State. Elementary level programs, such as Fins and Jaws, Habitats and Life Cycles, and secondary level programs, such as Pond Life and Freshwater Ecology, complement New York State learning standards and enrich the learning experiences of the students. The Hatchery’s seasonal Egg Stripping program allows students to witness the centuries-old technique of fish breeding: egg taking and fertilization. With the continuing support from Hatchery members, government agencies, private organizations and foundations, the Hatchery has been able to expand its programming with outreach options. Working in conjunction with Trout in the Classroom, the Hatchery is able to bring Egg Stripping programs into schools.

The ability of the Hatchery to serve the community as a gathering place for special family and educational events, attests to its dedicated mission to increase awareness and appreciation for the freshwater ecosystems of New York State.

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Fish Sales

The Hatchery sells brook and rainbow trout for stocking purposes. If you are interested in purchasing trout, contact Steve DeSimone, Director, at (516) 692-6768. Trout pricing and delivery charges are subject to change. Please contact the Hatchery for the most up to date pricing. We’ll deliver a few dozen for backyard ponds or hundreds for sportsmen clubs. Place your orders early to ensure your preferred delivery date.

Where are the fish stocked?
Fish are stocked all over Long Island and eastern New York and as far north as the Adirondacks.
What time of year are fish stocked?
We stock fish year round, but mostly in the spring and fall due to cooler temperatures. The warmer weather in July and August is more stressful for the trout and makes it more difficult to transport them.
What type of pond is ideal for trout?
Trout require cold, highly oxygenated water (50-65°F), but can tolerate temperatures up to 70°F for short periods of time.
What type of trout do you sell?
We currently sell rainbow and brook trout
Where do the eggs come from?
We take our own brook trout eggs from on-site broodstock.
What size fish do you stock?
The majority of the fish we stock range from 10"-18" brook and rainbow trout.
Where does the water come?
The water comes from spring water and six artesian wells. We get 50-75 gallons per minute of spring water from the Upper Spring Pond and 325 gallons per minutes of well water. This water is at a constant 52°F all year long. No pumps are used to move water through the Hatchery. The springs and artesian wells flow naturally from underground pressure and a slight pitch on the Hatchery grounds allows water to flow freely through the trout ponds.
What about New York State Disease Inspections?
The Hatchery has not tested positive for any certifiable diseases.