Fish Hatchery Maintenance Program (BIA)

The Branch of Fisheries, Wildlife and Recreation (BFWR) provides competitive funding to federally-recognized Tribes to maintain and enhance fish hatcheries. Fish hatchery facilities are any structure used to spawn, hatch, rear, hold, care for, or stock fish and/or shellfish.

Federally-recognized Tribes may submit project proposals to the Fish Hatchery Maintenance Program contact at their Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Regional Office. Project proposals are scored according to published ranking criteria, with the highest-scoring projects receiving funding.

All project proposals must include (1) a hatchery facility description form and (2) a hatchery maintenance project proposal form for each hatchery that is part of the proposal. Both forms are included in the annual application.

1. Eligible Fish Hatchery. Any multi-purpose or single-purpose facility owned by the Bureau of
   Indian Affairs (BIA) or a Federally recognized tribe engaged in the spawning, hatching, rearing,
   holding, caring for, or stocking of fish and/or shellfish. The Hatchery must be on Trust Lands.
   Facilities owned by other federal agencies, states, and non-tribal entities are not eligible to receive
   maintenance funds.
2. Maintenance. Work that is required to prolong the life of a structure, building, or other facility
   component including: delay of physical deterioration; enhancement of original function;
   application of new technological advances; or replacement or acquisition of associated capitalized
   equipment.
3. Construction. Work that involves breaking new ground and/or installing equipment that was not
   part of the original hatchery facility; or, building a new hatchery where none formerly existed.