CFRE Fish Hatchery

Formerly the Aquatic Research Laboratory (ARL), the CFRE Fish Hatchery is a student ran hatchery, located on the St. Marys River. Here, CFRE has been rearing Atlantic Salmon for over 30 years, giving students a hands on aquaculture experience year round.

Tour the Hatchery

Hatchery Tour

History of the Hatchery

Atlantic Salmon in the St. Marys River

Student Opportunities

Broodstock in the Snow

Hatchery Tours

Hatchery tours are currently suspended due to COVID-19. Please use our virtual hatchery tour on this page. We hope to welcome all again soon!

To schedule an in-person hatchery tour, please call (906) 635-1949. Tours will be given by our student employees or our hatchery manager, Megan Thompson.

Exterior of Hatchery

Directions

We are located inside the Cloverland Electric Cooperative Hydroelectric Plant at the end of Salmon Run Way in Sault Sainte Marie, MI.

Virtual Tour

Can’t visit in-person? Click here to enjoy our 360 Virtual Hatchery Tour!ย 

A view of the CFRE hatchery from Portage Ave

  • Here are some helpful tips for easy navigation of the 360 Tour!
    • To hear the sound, click on the settings logo in the top right hand corner and turn on the narration sound
    • Clicking on each point of interest bubble will allow you to hear the narration about the area
    • To see full 360 pictures, click and drag your mouse around the photo to view different areas
    • To change scenes, click the arrows at the bottom of the screen

Student Opportunities

  • Academic year fish hatchery assistants
  • Summer hatchery assistants
  • NRES450 (Class offered at LSSU) Lab Apprenticeship
  • Fall broodstock collection and egg take
Netting
Broodstock

History of the Hatchery

  • The Center for Freshwater Research and Education was built on a strong foundation of the former Aquatic Research Laboratory (ARL), which began in the late 1970s and created successful hatchery, training, and research programs in freshwater science at Lake State.
  • In 2018, the ARL was expanded and renamed to the Center for Freshwater Research and Education, and includes two facilities –the new Richard and Teresa Barch CFRE building and the CFRE Hatchery.