Merle A. Hayes Salmon Hatchery

Merle A. Hayes Salmon Hatchery This is for the Suquamish Tribe's salmon hatchery updates. Made up of the Merle A. The Merle A.

Hayes Salmon Hatchery at Grover's Creek and the Gorst rearing facility, we are dedicated to enhancing and protecting salmon populations across the Pacific Northwest. Hayes Salmon Hatchery (formerly Grover’s Creek Hatchery), established in the late 1970s. This facility became fully operational in the early 1980s, replacing the nearby Cowling Creek Hatchery, and serves as the primary site for Tribal

salmon enhancement activities. The Suquamish Tribe has been dedicated to enhancing and protecting salmon populations across the Pacific Northwest. Through a network of hatcheries, rearing facilities, and marine net pens, the Tribe’s Salmon Enhancement Program helps sustain ceremonial, subsistence, and commercial harvests while supporting long-term recovery of wild salmon stocks.

Elliot Bay net pen Coho are officially on their way. Safe travels out there, and we’ll see you all back in a few years.
05/26/2026

Elliot Bay net pen Coho are officially on their way. Safe travels out there, and we’ll see you all back in a few years.

Operations at Agate Pass net pens are going great! Our yearling coho salmon are adapting well to their environment and g...
05/13/2026

Operations at Agate Pass net pens are going great! Our yearling coho salmon are adapting well to their environment and growing fast. Exciting progress as we continue supporting healthy fish development and strong future returns.

The 76th Annual Kid’s Fishing Party was a huge success! Held on April 25th at our Gorst facility, this special annual ev...
05/07/2026

The 76th Annual Kid’s Fishing Party was a huge success! Held on April 25th at our Gorst facility, this special annual event was dedicated to the memory of Norm Reinhardt. Kids ages 5–14 enjoyed a fun day of fishing, and prizes were awarded for the 10 biggest fish caught. Thank you to The Kitsap Poggie Club and everyone who helped make this tradition another memorable event!

It’s tagging season at Grover’s Creek! 🐟Our team is currently working alongside the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commissio...
04/22/2026

It’s tagging season at Grover’s Creek! 🐟

Our team is currently working alongside the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission (NWIFC) to tag the 2025 broodstock of Chinook salmon. We kicked things off on April 20 and will continue for about two weeks until all fish are tagged.

Right now, the Chinook are being held in our cement pond. From there, they’re carefully loaded into the trailer for tagging, then released into our earthen pond to continue growing.

Curious how it all works? The public is welcome to stop by Merle A. Hayes Salmon Hatchery and see the process up close—we’d love to have you!

It’s that time of year again! Our salmon have been raised strong and healthy, and they’re ready to begin their journey. ...
04/22/2026

It’s that time of year again! Our salmon have been raised strong and healthy, and they’re ready to begin their journey. 🌊🐟

After carefully incubating the Chum eggs here at the hatchery, they spend time growing in our earthen pond until they’re big enough for release. Once they’re ready, we send them off into the Sound—usually at night when the tide is heading out—to give them the best possible start.

The Chum were released very early on Thursday, April 16th. We take every precaution to support their survival… although sometimes Bill still gets a little “help” (be sure to check out the last video 👀).

Each year, the Kitsap Poggie Club hosts a beloved program called Salmon in the Classroom, giving local students a hands-...
04/22/2026

Each year, the Kitsap Poggie Club hosts a beloved program called Salmon in the Classroom, giving local students a hands-on connection to their environment. The program is consistently a success, offering a meaningful and engaging way for kids to get involved. Throughout the school year, students raise their own salmon in classroom tanks, learning about their life cycle and habitat. Then, this year, from March 27 through April 3, the participating schools got to release their salmon into the stream. During these visits, students also partake in educational activities and enjoy a guided tour of the Suquamish–Gorst facility, making the experience both fun and enriching.

Conducted CTmax trials today on our fall Chum stock. This trial will allow us to know the thermal tolerance of our juven...
04/14/2026

Conducted CTmax trials today on our fall Chum stock. This trial will allow us to know the thermal tolerance of our juvenile Chum and will be added to the baseline being collected across the Puget Sound! 🐟

Elliott Bay Coho Transfer 2026
02/26/2026

Elliott Bay Coho Transfer 2026

We are ponding up our Chum fry this week. Everybody looks nice and healthy!
02/10/2026

We are ponding up our Chum fry this week. Everybody looks nice and healthy!

Meanwhile.......out at the Salmon Hatchery. Our salmon eggs have hatched, and we are transporting the juveniles to where...
01/13/2026

Meanwhile.......out at the Salmon Hatchery. Our salmon eggs have hatched, and we are transporting the juveniles to where they need to go. One pond is full, and the other is being prepared for the new inhabitants.

Address

23175 Indianola Road NE
Poulsbo, WA
98370

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4pm
Tuesday 8am - 4pm
Wednesday 8am - 4pm
Thursday 8am - 4pm
Friday 8am - 4pm

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