Hatcheries and stocking programs have long been subject to controversy, sometimes with ferocious vigor, with some arguing against these techno-fallacies based on a large body of research demonstrating a lack of efficacy and even harm to wild fish genetics and ecosystems, and others finding new promise in how they might address rapidly changing ecologies and social needs for fisheries or conservation. Scientific advances and guiding principles such as the Responsible Approach provide a means for approaching such issues in a responsible and science-based manner but have not been widely and effectively implemented. Here we report on an innovative initiative to break the deadlock and advance the dialogue on hatcheries and stocking programs through innovative engagement and community-building. A Roundtable session at the 2024 World Fisheries Congress was convened with a diverse panel of 20 subject matter experts and attracted over 80 participants to discuss challenges and opportunities to better use aquaculture-aided approaches. Common themes included a sense that hatcheries and stocking are human endeavors but that their human dimensions have been neglected in science and policy; the diversity of approaches and contexts (one size does not fit all); and a strong sense among participants that a more open and constructive dialogue is overdue. In this presentation, we will discuss key insights from the Roundtable, and ongoing activities aimed at building an increasingly broad-based, trans-disciplinary community of practice around the use of aquaculture-aided approaches.