Catfish Industry Channel catfish Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas Fillets frozen Aquaculture Seafood Catch Fisheries Farming Freshwater, Marine Vietnam, Asia Farm Bill, 2008, 2014 Trade Basa, Tra Antidumping duties Labeling USDA, U.S. Department of Agriculture FDA, Food and Drug Administration USITC, U.S. International Trade Commission
Aquaculture refers to the breeding, rearing, and harvesting of animals or plants in water environments, such as ponds, lakes, and oceans. It includes the production of seafood from hatchery fish which are grown to market size in controlled environments. In the United States, channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)—which represented approximately 57% of total U.S. aquaculture production by weight and 26% by value in 2012—has declined significantly over the last decade (see Figure 1). By volume, domestic catfish production in 2012 (the most recent available data from National Marine Fisheries Service) was about half of what was produced in 2003. This decline occurred for a number of reasons including higher domestic production costs and an increased global supply of lower-priced aquaculture products.
Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Fisheries of the United States 2013: Current Fishery Statistics, no. 2013, September 2014. |
Catfish are farmed primarily in Mississippi, Alabama, and Arkansas. The water surface area used for catfish production in these three states totaled 63,000 acres in 2014, about 82% of total acres in production. Less than 1% of catfish produced in the United States is exported.
State |
Acres of Water in Production |
Food Size Inventory (thousands of pounds) |
Annual Food Size Sales |
Mississippi |
41,300 |
110,600 |
$176,035 |
Alabama |
16,300 |
67,500 |
$104,247 |
Arkansas |
6,100 |
16,330 |
$18,232 |
Other |
7,925 |
21,286 |
$33,868 |
Total |
77,725 |
215,716 |
$332,382 |
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), "Quick Stats."
Notes: Inventory measured January 1, 2014. Acres in production measured from January 2014 through December 2014.
The prices of industry inputs—such as soybean meal and corn, which are used to manufacture catfish feed—have increased significantly during this period of industry decline (see Figure 2). From 2003 through 2013, in real 2013 dollars, soybean meal prices increased by 156% and corn prices increased by 146%. However, corn prices decreased from 2012 to 2013.
The total global catch of all edible products from wild fisheries has remained essentially flat in the last decade, but global aquaculture production has increased substantially, particularly in Asia, the world's largest producer of aquaculture products. Several countries, primarily Vietnam, have become major exporters of frozen catfish fillets to the United States and have secured a growing share of the domestic market (see Figure 3). In 2003, U.S. catfish imports were 2,500 metric tons; in 2012, U.S. imports increased significantly to 108,000 metric tons. Prices of imported frozen catfish fillets from Asian countries have been significantly lower than domestic prices, making imports competitive in U.S. markets (see Figure 4).
Sources: NOAA, Fisheries of the United States 2013: Current Fishery Statistics, no. 2013, September 2014, and NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service, Fisheries Statistics and Economics Division, "Annual Trade Data by Product, Country/Association." |
Congress and the Administration have taken several actions to assist the U.S. catfish industry.
Author Contact Information
1. |
P.L. 107-171, §10806. |
2. |
International Trade Administration, "Notice of Antidumping Duty Order: Certain Frozen Fish Fillets from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam," 68 FR 47909, August 12, 2003. |
3. |
P.L. 110-246, §11016. |
4. |
P.L. 113-79, §12106. |