Pond trout farm and stocking supplier

Rural landowners stocking private ponds, local fishing clubs and fee-fishing ponds, restaurants, and direct customers buying fresh fish.

Selling live fish by size for stocking, selling fish for eating by weight, and possibly charging for fee-fishing days where permitted.

• Patience and daily routine with animals
• Understanding water quality and seasons
• Basic machinery or earthwork know-how

• Water-use permits, pond construction approvals and environmental rules differ by province, so check with your provincial regulator and local conservation authority
• Fish health testing and movement rules for live fish, check provincial rules and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
• Ice cover, low oxygen in summer heat and predators can cause large losses
• Species rules for stocking, as some species are restricted in some provinces
• Liability insurance, especially if the public visits for fee fishing
• Seasonal income: sales may bunch up in spring and fall

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $8,000 to $40,000, depending on pond work, water supply and equipment. Monthly revenue is estimated at about $1,000 to $5,000, depending on how many fish you sell and the time of year.

Water-use permits, pond construction approvals and environmental rules differ by province, so check with your provincial regulator and local conservation authority. Also check fish health testing and live fish movement rules with the province and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, plus stocking species restrictions.

Plan on at least about 10 hours a week as an estimate, with a steady daily routine. Understanding water quality and seasons matters, since ice cover, low summer oxygen and predators can cause large losses. Sales may bunch up in spring and fall.