About the Fish Hatchery & Aquarium

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.