Private Stocking: A Public Problem (MidCurrent)

Privately stocked nonnative brown trout from New Hampshire’s Saco River, home to wild native brook trout. (Diana Mallard)

“How many know that in some states you can stock pretty much whatever you want in a private pond, and without notification, regulation, or oversight, and regardless of any potential impact to public waterways? How many know that in some states, the same holds true in regard to stocking fish directly into a public water?”

As part of a year-long native fish conservation series of articles in MidCurrent, NFC Executive Director Bob Mallard takes a closer look at private fish stocking practices. As noted in the excerpt, sometimes the line between private and state-sponsored stocking is blurred, which leads to confusion, or worse, on the part of private citizens. In the end, it’s wild native fish that pay the price.