A total of $10.3 million will be invested to upgrade the Canadian Cold Lake Fish Hatchery to reduce operating costs and help protect it and Alberta’s lakes, rivers and streams from disease. The refurbishment features the construction of a new recirculating aquaculture system and upgrades to key operating and mechanical systems to allow the reuse of water during operations, which will significantly reduce utility costs and water use.

Built in 1986, the Cold Lake Fish Hatchery uses a “flow-through” method where water is taken from Cold Lake, heated and treated, used during fish hatchery operations and then returned to Cold Lake. A recirculating aquaculture system will generate a positive return on investment through significantly reduced utility costs. Modernizing existing operating and mechanical systems will also help improve cost efficiency.

Funding for this project includes $7 million from Environment and Parks for construction of the new recirculating aquaculture system and associated infrastructure and $3.3 million from Alberta Infrastructure for the installation of a new oxygen generator and replacement of the hatchery’s water headbox, metal roof and motor control systems.

Including work already underway or completed earlier this year, investments totaling more than $50 million in Alberta’s four provincial fish hatcheries will expand and modernize operations to support a larger, more efficient and more disease-free fish stocking program.