The ALLCO Fish Hatchery began in 1979 as a unique inmate work program, thanks to Jim Jose, Program Director at the Alouette River Correctional Centre. Seeing the chance to boost dwindling Alouette River fish populations, Jose pitched the idea to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO). The project combined inmate labor with fisheries expertise to rear salmon, creating an impactful conservation effort.
With the DFO’s support, the hatchery was set up with an egg incubator, rearing troughs, and essential equipment, giving inmates meaningful work and helping restore the river’s fish stocks. In 2002, the ALLCO Hatchery faced closure due to government cutbacks and the shutdown of the Alouette River Correctional Centre. Recognizing its value, new Fraser Regional Correctional Centre Director Bob Riches helped rally the community, successfully saving the hatchery.
Today, inmates from Fraser Regional work there daily, helping raise four salmon species—Chinook, Pink, Coho, and Chum. The hatchery also provides chum fry and eggs to other programs in the region. Over 40 years, the ALLCO Hatchery Inmate Work Program has reared over 75 million fish, contributing greatly to local watersheds.
Since the ALLCO Hatchery is part of the BC Corrections Inmate Work Program, the property is not open to public visits. However, guests are welcome to explore the Rivers Heritage Centre located at the entrance. If you visit, please check in with the Alouette River Management Society upon arrival. Also, stay tuned for our public hatchery tours when we have them scheduled, you can find these events on our Facebook and Instagram.
Supporting the Salmon Life Cycle: From Eggs to Release at ALLCO Hatchery
In fall and early winter, mature salmon are collected from the fish trap at the hatchery. Eggs are harvested from females and fertilized with milt from males, then incubated in carefully controlled conditions. After about six weeks, the eggs reach the “eyed” stage and are moved to circular incubators to hatch. The young salmon, nourished by their yolk sacs, develop into free-swimming fry, which are hand-fed and raised. Once mature, they are transferred to larger ponds for further growth before being released into the river, often with local schools involved.
The ALLCO Hatchery also plays an essential role in the Alouette adult sockeye salmon enumeration program. Through this program, hatchery staff capture, count, and transport sockeye salmon above the dam, aiding their migration and supporting population monitoring efforts. This process helps maintain the sockeye salmon lifecycle in the Alouette watershed and contributes to conservation and research initiatives aimed at understanding and protecting this critical species.
Read more about the Alouette Sockeye enumeration program
