(Summerland, BC) – The Summerland Trout Hatchery will be undergoing renovations in 2026, as part of ongoing work by the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC to update and modernize the hatchery and fish-production system. The changes will result in a smaller footprint, helping the non-profit Society achieve efficiencies in process and cost. While the renovations will result in some adjustments to hatchery operations, they will not result in changes to the region’s stocking program – the Society will continue to rear and release fish into surrounding Okanagan Region lakes out of the facility.
The hatchery has a long history in the community. Using eggs from Pennask Lake fish, rainbow trout were raised on the site for the first time in the spring of 1928. The rainbow trout were originally reared in a converted concrete powerhouse, with the current hatchery building replacing that structure in 1948. While many updates have occurred since then, Shaughnessy Spring has provided high-quality water for the hatchery for almost a century, and will continue as a crucial water source supporting the ongoing operations at the site.
The planned renovation will be the largest in almost 75 years. Work at the Summerland Trout Hatchery will commence in the summer of 2026, once the springtime fish releases are complete. The renovations will result in a more efficient facility, with a concentrated focus on fish-hatchery operations. The Summerland site will no longer host a visitor centre, but staff from the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC will continue activities like public stocking events in the area. The Learn to Fish program will also continue to be delivered in the Okanagan.
“The Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC is revamping production within our five trout hatcheries, ensuring efficient delivery of the recreational stocking program while continuing to operate within our operating budget,” said Andrew Wilson, President, Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC. “We appreciate and value the support we have in Summerland. We want to assure anglers and residents that updates to this facility will ensure that we continue to have a presence within the community while supporting the region’s recreational fisheries into the future.”
The Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC was created in 2003 as a not-for-profit organization, funded mainly through freshwater fishing licence revenues. As a service provider to the Province of British Columbia, the Society annually stocks six million trout, char, and kokanee in 800 B.C. lakes. It also manages special hatchery programs for endangered species, including white sturgeon; conducts fisheries research, education, and conservation programs; and works to make angling more accessible for all.