A Minnesota fish hatchery facing challenges to fund updates

A rare public tour offered a behind-the-scenes look Saturday at the St. Paul State Fish Hatchery — the only state-operated fish hatchery in the Twin Cities metro.The event, organized in partnership with the nonprofit MN-FISH, was designed to raise awareness about the aging facility and the need for major upgrades.

Genevieve Furtner, manager of the hatchery, said many people don’t realize the important work happening behind the scenes.

“Yeah. So the tour was first and foremost just to get members of the public acquainted with the hatchery that we have in the metro,” Furtner said. “A lot of people don’t necessarily know about the hatchery and the work that we do here. So I love when I have the opportunity to be able to give people a glimpse of what’s going on back there, to let them see it.”

The St. Paul hatchery, which has been in operation for over a century, plays a critical role in Minnesota’s fish production. In a record year, Furtner said she released about 45 million fish into state waters.

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WCCO: A Minnesota fish hatchery facing challenges to fund updates