(Anchorage) - After an extended closure period due to restrictions associated with COVID-19, the Ship Creek Fisheries Center, located at the William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery in Anchorage, will reopen to the public on a limited schedule on July 6, 2021.

The facility will be open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Due to budget and staff shortages, the Tanana Valley Fisheries Center in Fairbanks will remain closed to the public until further notice.

"The Ship Creek Fisheries Center is an amazing facility that can be enjoyed by people of all ages." Dave Rutz, the director of the Division of Sport Fish said. "Visitors will find interpretive displays, information on hatchery operations and many other exciting fish-centered features - including our new aquarium with live fish. We are excited to reopen the Ship Creek Fisheries Center to the public on a limited basis and we encourage you to come visit."

Public guided tours will not be offered this summer from facility staff, but tour groups are still welcome to come and tour the facility on a self-guided basis. As a courtesy to others, visitors are asked to consider wearing a mask while touring the facility. Although guided public tours will not be offered, please look for the QR codes located throughout the outdoor path and indoor facility to listen on your smartphone to a guided tour from one of our staff.

As the summer season progresses, schedule and hours are subject to change. Please continue checking media releases and calling the hatchery phone number for the most up-to-date information. We currently do not have a set date that we will begin running guided tours through the facility again and are not scheduling any future tours at this time.

For more information, please contact Molly McCarthy-Cunfer, at (907) 444-6030 or (907) 269-0427.

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