FISH HATCHERY ON TRACK 4-6-17

The new Florida Gulf Coast Marine fish hatchery in downtown Pensacola could be completed by late next year. The 19 million-dollar project will be a research and education center that will produce an estimated five million saltwater sport fish each year that will be released along the Gulf Coast. Keith Wilkins, Pensacola assistant city administrator, said the Florida Department of Environmental Protection has issued one of the permits necessary to keep the project moving forward and if things remain on schedule the hatchery could begin operation in the fall of 2018. It will be located on the bay near the Maritime Park. Funding for the hatchery is coming from the National Resource Damage Assessment fund.