Technological progress in the US catfish industry

Abstract

The US catfish industry has undergone significant technological advancements in an attempt to achieve cost efficiencies. This study monitored the progress of the adoption of alternative and complementary technologies in the US catfish industry. A 2019-2020 multi-state in-person survey in Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi (n = 68), revealed increased adoption of intensively aerated ponds (6,315 ha) and split ponds (1,176 ha). The adoption of alternative, more intensive, production practices has been accompanied by increased adoption of complementary technologies of fixed-paddlewheel aeration, automated oxygen monitors, and hybrid catfish. As a result, the average aeration rate in the tristate region has increased to 7.8 kW/ha with 97% of catfish farms adopting automated oxygen monitors. About 53% of the water surface area in the tristate region was used for hybrid catfish production. Fingerling producers have also adopted a feed-based, oral vaccine against Enteric Septicemia of Catfish, with 83% of the fingerling farms and 73% of the fingerling production area vaccinated against ESC in 2020. Increased adoption of productivity-enhancing technologies in the US catfish industry explains the 59% increase in foodfish productivity from 2010 to 2019.

Cost of regulations on US catfish farms

“…The US catfish industry is the leader in US aquaculture (Hegde et al, 2022), contributing $1.9 billion to the regional economy of Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi (Hegde et al, 2021). Understanding the extent and effects of regulatory costs on US catfish farms is critical given the competition with low-priced imported products from countries with less effective governance structures than those in the United States (Engle et al, 2022).…”

Potential economic impact on U.S. aquaculture of injurious species listing of major aquaculture species

“…Blue catfish is used in the U.S. catfish industry as the male parent of the blue × channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus hybrid. By 2020, a survey of catfish producers revealed that 53% of the catfish production area was in production of the blue × channel catfish hybrid (Hegde, Kumar, Engle, Hanson, Roy, Cheatham, et al, 2022). The only hatcheries producing and selling hybrid catfish are in Arkansas and Mississippi, but some farms in each of these two states purchase hybrid fingerlings from the other state (Ganesh Kumar, Mississippi State University, personal communication).…”

Pathology and virulence of Edwardsiella tarda, Edwardsiella piscicida, and Edwardsiella anguillarum in channel (Ictalurus punctatus), blue (Ictalurus furcatus), and channel × blue hybrid catfish

“…Historically, the US industry produced channel catfish exclusively, but improved techniques have removed logistical obstacles to hybrid production, which now represents nearly 60% of commercial harvests (Hegde et al, 2022). Producers favour their improved feed conversion at harvest, superior feed consumption and growth, tolerance to crowding, and increased disease resistance (Dunham et al, 2014; Griffin et al, 2010; Wolters et al, 1996).…”

“…8,999,319) became available and confers exceptional protection against E. ictaluri in channel and hybrid catfish fingerlings (Aarattuthodiyil et al, 2020;Chatakondi et al, 2018;Greenway et al, 2017;Peterson et al, 2016;Wise et al, 2015Wise et al, , 2020. This vaccine has been adopted widely by commercial fingerling producers in the southeastern US (Hegde et al, 2022). Live-attenuated E. ictaluri immersion vaccination is also cross-protective against E. piscicida related mortality in channel and hybrid catfish (Griffin et al, 2020a;López-Porras et al, 2022).…”