The National Survey of Needs for Hatchery Fish was a cooperative effort by the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife and the 50 States to obtain information for estimating future nationwide requirements for hatchery fish. During 1966, data were collected on present and future: (1) amount and types of sport fish habitat; (2) amount and types of habitat stocked; (3) numbers and types of fishermen; (4) stocking requirements; and (5) hatchery fish production capabilities. Inland fishing waters amounted to nearly 82 million acres in 1965 and will increase 10 million acres by 2000. Half of the waters are stocked. There were 29 million freshwater fishermen in 1965 and by 2000 there will be almost 64 million. There was a deficit of 287 million hatchery salmon in 1965 and by 1980 the deficit may reach 709 million. Requirements for trout exceeded production in 1965 by 1 million pounds and future deficits are forecast. About two-thirds billion more warm-water fish were required in 1965 than were produced. Future deficits will be about one-third of a billion annually. Marine waters to the 3-mile limit amounted to 70 million acres. In 1965 there were 13 million salt-water anglers, nearly half of whom fished in Florida. By the year 2000 there will be 29.4 million salt-water fishermen. Except for anadromous fishes stocked in fresh water, no marine species were stocked in 1965. Eight of the coastal States are considering stocking of marine fishes.
