Freshwater fishing is big business in Massachusetts.
In addition to recreational fishing, hatcheries are critical to restoring Atlantic salmon to their native watersheds in the Commonwealth. State Facilities Bitzer, McLaughlin, Sandwich, and Sunderland hatcheries use tank, pond, and raceway culture to annually produce 450,000 to 500,000 pounds of brook, brown, and rainbow trout. These fish are subsequently stocked into ponds, lakes, rivers, and streams during the spring, fall and winter across the Commonwealth to provide fishing opportunities all year long. Roger Reed Hatchery in Palmer is dedicated to producing Atlantic salmon, landlocked salmon, and northern pike. Annually, some one million Atlantic salmon fry are produced as part of the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife's effort to restore Atlantic salmon to their native habitats.