Southwestern Native Aquatic Resources and Recovery Center

Located in Dexter, New Mexico, it is the only federal facility in the nation dedicated to studying and holding only threatened and endangered fish.

In 2021, the Southwestern Native Aquatic Resources and Recovery Center held 14 warmwater fish species.

Close monitoring at the hatchery include developing propagation and culture techniques, conducting water quality data, diet and nutrition testing, life history studies, reproductive physiology and genetic management.

Traditionally, the spawning season at the Dexter National Fish Hatchery & Technology Center starts in March and ends in mid-June.

The success the center has experienced in spawning is evident in its distribution of the species into their natural habitat.

Biologists both in the field and on-site are able to identify fish that are reared at a facility versus those that are wild:

Artificial spawning of Colorado pikeminnow
Recording length and weight before spawning Colorado pikeminnow
Visible Implant Elastomer inserted in the anal fin of a southern leatherside chub, Lepidomeda aliciae