What is the purpose of a hatchery in aquaculture?

The purpose of a hatchery in aquaculture is specifically to fertilize fish eggs and incubate them. This facility plays a crucial role in the production of fish for both recreational and commercial purposes. By controlling various factors such as water quality, temperature, and nutrition, hatcheries can optimize the conditions for egg fertilization and the development of embryos.

In a hatchery, fertilized eggs are carefully monitored until they hatch into larvae. This process is essential for stocking freshwater and marine environments with fish species that may otherwise be at risk due to overfishing or habitat loss. The hatchery system also allows for selective breeding programs and the enhancement of desirable traits within fish stocks, which can lead to healthier and more robust populations.

The other options focus on activities that are not the primary functions of a hatchery. Catching wild fish does not relate to breeding or incubation and is outside the scope of hatchery operations. Feeding adult fish is a part of aquaculture but takes place in grow-out facilities rather than hatcheries, which focus only on the early life stages. Monitoring fish in the wild pertains to conservation and survey efforts rather than the controlled breeding that takes place in hatcheries. Thus, the focus on fertilizing and incubating eggs makes this option