Behind the Scenes: Fertilizing Fish Eggs

Wednesday was the final “egg take” day for fish biologists with the Department of Fish and Game.

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By Lauren Maxwell
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Story Created: Nov 3, 2011 at 10:25 AM AKDT

Story Updated: Nov 3, 2011 at 10:25 AM AKDT

For many fishermen, this time of year is a waiting game. The summer season has ended and winter ice fishing has yet to begin. But for the people who make sure that there are fish to catch, Nov. 2 was one of the busiest days of the year.

Wednesday was the final “egg take” day for fish biologists with the Department of Fish and Game. Throughout the fall, they have dedicated a single day for each species of hatchery fish to collect eggs and fertilize them for coming seasons.

“It’s one egg take and one shot,” says biologist Chuck Pratt. “This is our big thing for the year and this is our final egg take. We started with rainbow trout, Arctic grayling, king salmon then coho salmon and now we are on Arctic char.”

More than 25,000 Arctic char eggs were fertilized on Wednesday.

The fertilized eggs will spend the winter in incubators at the state’s newest hatchery at Ship Creek.

The fish will grow there and be ready for release in spring 2012 to be stocked in lakes across the state.

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