| | John Fletcher and his wife Pat, own and operate Blueberry Springs Trout Hatchery, east of Rocky Mountain House. The fish farm concept began soon after John completed a short course on raising fish at Olds Community College in the late 1980’s. First, a large pond was constructed in 1989. Then, after receiving licensing approval (at that time from Alberta Fish and Wildlife) the pond was stocked with 7.5 cm rainbow trout fingerlings the following June.
As a water quality analysis suggested, trout growth was excellent and ample feed was provided. Family and friends have enjoyed good fishing at the pond ever since.
John then decided he needed to learn how to hatch and rear his own fish, to replace fish stocks in the pond. After more information was gathered, the first part of the indoor facility was constructed. . The hatching unit was designed and built on the farm. It works well and remains in operation today. This unit has one row of flow-controlled, up-dwelling incubators and troughs where egg casings are removed after hatch; a limestone rock filter / biological filter; dual pumps for water flow and an aeration tower for carbon dioxide removal and oxygen absorption. The unit will handle over 100,000 eggs per hatch and takes up 4.5 sq. meters of floor space.
Eyed rainbow trout eggs are usually purchased from Ontario, British Columbia, Idaho and Washington. Brook trout and Arctic char eggs have come from New Brunswick and Quebec. All the eggs are certified disease free, through the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO).
John and Pat’s oldest son, Steve, began to take an interest in fish farming and for experience worked with a large west coast salmon producer. Steve was able to gain experience in various disciplines of that operation. Steve’s input proved very valuable, when the Fletchers decided to expand their indoor facility and produce fingerlings for the Alberta pond stocking market.
 | When the family fish pond began producing a good supply of 60 to 75 cm rainbow trout, the Fletchers decided to open up a U-fish venture and market these large fish. People visited on weekends and tried their hand at catching a large rainbow or brook trout, or even Arctic char. Fishermen enjoyed the chance of angling for an enormous lunker fish. This U-Fish idea worked well enough, but after two seasons of working weekends from dawn to dusk this venture had lost its appeal. So, the fee fishing was discontinued.
When John and Pat Fletcher entered into the fingerling market, it was their intent to raise quality fish, available for export. To verify their fish as disease free, a commitment with DFO was undertaken. For two consecutive years the federal government tested all fish batches in their hatchery and pond. After a mandatory two-year sampling period, the Fletchers fish farm became a DFO certified Schedule II Disease Free facility. Required bi-annual fish testing continues to keep this status in effect.
The indoor grow-out facility has been expanded and now includes, along with the original hatching system, four – 5 meter troughs for early rearing, and eight round tanks for grow out (four with 2 meter diameter and four with 3.5 meter diameter). Water treatment begins at a large swirl separator and then moves to a rotating micro-screen drum filter, through two 2-meter diameter biological bead filters into a storage sump. The water is finally pumped through a fluidized sand filter, the carbon dioxide stripper, and a low-head oxygenator, then back to the fish tanks. |
In addition to school and scout group tours, the Fletcher family has hosted many potential fish farmers at the annual “Basic Principles of Aquaculture” courses in the area. Pat and John have no qualms about new competition and readily explain their operating system. They know that few will dedicate themselves to aquaculture, an exciting but seriously challenging venture. There’s always room for one more!
For more information on Blueberry Springs Trout Hatchery near Rocky Mountain House, call Pat or John Fletcher at 403 849-5169. |
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