World Aquaculture 33 The Oregon Hatchery Research Center: An experimental laboratory in a natural setting David L. G. Noakes 1 and Charlie Corrarino 2 Discussions and debates about hatcheries and differences between hatchery and wild salmon have a high profile in the Pacific Northwest (Araki et al. 2007). Oregon has taken the lead to resolve these debates by establishing the Oregon Hatchery Research Center (OHRC). We will describe the OHRC (Figure 1), but first we will give a brief review of some history to put things in context. We apologize to readers for this brief summary of fish hatcheries and hatchery production. We risk belaboring the obvious because it is important for us to draw the distinctions we will make later in this article. Hatcheries and hatchery production of fishes have a long history in North America and elsewhere (Fishery Board of Scotland 1886, Maitland 1887, MacCrimmon 1965, Moring 2000). There are records of captive production and rearing of fishes in China from at least as early as 2,000 BCE. Hickling (1962) summarized the early history of aquaculture in China, Europe and elsewhere. Those earliest examples of captive breeding and rearing of fishes have continued their role in food production for direct human consumption, in what usually is described as intensive culture or fish farming. Fish farming, like other kinds of intensive production, is perhaps the most widely known form of aquaculture (Bardach et al. 1972, Huet 1970). Fish farming is one of the most rapidly growing forms of animal production, including a variety of marine and freshwater species (Leitritz and Lewis 1980, Pullin and Lowe-McConnell 1982, Smitherman et al. 1978, Usui 1991, FAO 2006). Fish farming is currently dominated by China, a consequence of its long history there and the large human population with a tradition of fish consumption (Figure 2). Another form of aquaculture, usually described as extensive culture, involves the production of fishes under controlled conditions, but then stocking of them into open waters. Those fishes are intended for later harvest by humans, either by recreational or commercial harvest (Brannon et al. 2005). The other major form of aquaculture is directed to conservation or restoration of fishes that are of concern. This type of aquaculture is much more variable, depending on the species in question, details of the location and the management needs. We repeat what must be the obvious here, because the distinctions and differences seem to be lost on many of the general public. We hasten to add that there can also be confusion because there may be hatcheries operated for intensive Fig. 1. The Oregon Hatchery Research Center, Fall Creek, Oregon. Fig. 2. Grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella, served as part of a banquet at Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.
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