Fish Culture supervisor retires after 40 years with Game and Fish
Steve Sharon, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department Fish Culture Supervisor, is retiring after 40 years with the department. He has worked as supervisor for the last 20 years overseeing ten hatcheries across the state and a fish stocking programs that delivers more than 5 million fish to waters near you.
Sharon began at Game and Fish in 1978 in the Game and Fish Fish Health laboratory as a fish health technician. After a year in the lab, Sharon spent nine years working at four of Wyoming’s hatcheries. In 1988, he was selected as the fish hatchery coordinator and promoted to fish culture supervisor in 1998.
Sharon led in the development and oversight of extensive hatchery renovations and modernizations at the Boulder, Daniel, Dubois, Speas, Story, Tensleep and Wigwam facilities. This included the implementation of water reuse technologies, the protection and sterilization of water supplies as well as transitioning from older raceway production systems to more efficient dual drain circular tank systems. He also facilitated numerous trade relationships with partnering state that have significantly enhanced Wyoming’s fisheries, including a consistent supply of cool and warm water species including: black crappie, white crappie, bluegill, bluegill/sunfish hybrids, channel catfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, sauger and walleye. On average approximately 1.5 million cool and warm water fish are stocked in Wyoming every year.
“Steve has dedicated his career to the development and science of fish culture. His expertise in hatchery development, fish health and fish propagation will leave a mark both in the state of Wyoming and nationally,” Alan Osterland said, chief of fisheries.
Sharon’s last day with Game and Fish is April 24.
Sharon began at Game and Fish in 1978 in the Game and Fish Fish Health laboratory as a fish health technician. After a year in the lab, Sharon spent nine years working at four of Wyoming’s hatcheries. In 1988, he was selected as the fish hatchery coordinator and promoted to fish culture supervisor in 1998.
Sharon led in the development and oversight of extensive hatchery renovations and modernizations at the Boulder, Daniel, Dubois, Speas, Story, Tensleep and Wigwam facilities. This included the implementation of water reuse technologies, the protection and sterilization of water supplies as well as transitioning from older raceway production systems to more efficient dual drain circular tank systems. He also facilitated numerous trade relationships with partnering state that have significantly enhanced Wyoming’s fisheries, including a consistent supply of cool and warm water species including: black crappie, white crappie, bluegill, bluegill/sunfish hybrids, channel catfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, sauger and walleye. On average approximately 1.5 million cool and warm water fish are stocked in Wyoming every year.
“Steve has dedicated his career to the development and science of fish culture. His expertise in hatchery development, fish health and fish propagation will leave a mark both in the state of Wyoming and nationally,” Alan Osterland said, chief of fisheries.
Sharon’s last day with Game and Fish is April 24.
Sara DiRienzo (sara.dirienzo@wyo.gov)
