Informative Essay On Catfish Farming
Hooked On Alabama Catfish
Georgia is known for peaches, Kentucky is known for horses, Florida is known for oranges. But what is Alabama known for? Let me give you a hint: It is 2nd in the nation behind Mississippi, it employs 9,374 people, and we are known for having the world’s largest processing plant in this. Some of you have probably already figured out what it is, but if you haven’t, it is Catfish Farming.
Today I am here to discuss the importance of the catfish industry to the state of Alabama, what catfish farming is, and what producers need to know to get started in this industry.
Your first question may be what exactly is catfish farming? According to Wikipedia.org, “It is the principle form of aquaculture (which is farming in …show more content…
water). Catfish farming involves raising fish commercially in tanks, usually for food. Farmed raised catfish are a major part of the aquaculture industry because most of the catfish raised on farms are sold for human consumption. Great care must be taken to ensure that the fish are healthy and suitable for eating.
You may now be asking, exactly why is catfish farming so important to Alabama? Alabama’s catfish industry alone is worth a half a billion dollars; which ranks Alabama as the second largest producer in farmed raised catfish. The Alabama Catfish Producers report that Alabama farmers currently produce well over 100 million pounds of catfish per year and raise over 25 different species of catfish. In fact, Alabama is responsible for exporting catfish to all 50 states as well as Canada, Europe, and Asia.
The catfish industry is growing rapidly and, with more people becoming involved, it is important to be aware of both the joys and comforts of this way of life. One of the major advantages of this industry is the feeling of accomplishment from knowing you are providing a quality food source. Catfish contains “Essential nutrients, with a high protein value and low to moderate fat in comparison to animal products” (Weinstein, 2007). The industry is also providing a reliable food source to citizens around the world. Fish farming is already producing 50% of the fish used for human consumption and that number is expected to rise in upcoming years. As a potential future catfish farmer, it would be comforting to know that availability is another advantage. Catfish farms can be put almost anywhere there is a clean source of water.
Alabama catfish farmers provide a safe, sustainable, non-polluting alternative fish source that helps alleviate the stress on our oceans.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, 75% of the world’s fish species are overexploited or depleted. In addition, US catfish farms are self-contained and are not subjected to pollution. Aside from sustainability, imported catfish has been on the minds of Alabama farmers. Catfish from Vietnam and China has flooded the market in the last few years; the problem with this is that many foreign countries allow chemicals and drugs that are banned by the United States in farmed-raised catfish. According to the Catfish Farmers of America among the two percent of seafood imports from Vietnam inspected by the FDA during a recent a four-year period, nearly one and every five seafood shipments, including catfish, was contaminated with these potentially deadly chemicals or drugs. These contaminated shipments are a major cause of the recent COOL (Country of Origin Labeling) procedures. US farm-raised catfish is one of the most carefully inspected, regulated, and controlled proteins you can buy; a statement that catfish farmers stand on and are proud
of.
Now that you are aware of how important the industry is, as well as the advantages to catfish farming let me give you six simple steps in starting your own business.
The first thing you must decide is how you are going to market your catfish and create a marketing plan. Marketing usually refers to if you are going to sell to a processing plant or if you are going to market your fish yourself on a small-scale. Most farmers will sell to a processing plant. If you decide to take this marketing route, make sure that you call and create a contract with the plant before you begin producing fish.
Economic planning should be the second step in beginning a catfish farm. Create a sample fish farm budget by researching start up costs, expenses, and expected income. Make sure that catfish farming will be economical to you and your family.
The third step is to secure any permits required for aquaculture in the state. Permits may be required for all aspects of aquaculture production from pond construction to water discharge.
Growing a small family of catfish in the water you plan to use is the fourth step. Water is extremely important in catfish operations and you must ensure you have the right pH as well as maintaining the correct oxygen values. pH is a measurement of the acidity or alkalinity of the water and effects the toxicity of certain chemicals. Optimum pH for fish is about between 6.5 and 9.0. If the acetic value of the water you plan to grow your fish in is too high, you will need to lime the pond. Maintaining the correct oxygen values is a critical step in catfish production. Oxygen levels should be checked at least twice a day (at the same time every day) in the deep end. Oxygen depletion can quickly kill fish and is caused by many factors including pond turn-over and the dying off of algae. Methods of correcting oxygen depletions include: pumping oxygen rich water from adjacent ponds into your pond and using paddlewheel aerators.
Deciding when and what to feed your fish is the next (and fifth) step in the planning phase. “Feeding is the most important task in the intensive pond production of catfish” (Durborrow, 2000). Feed must contain all of the essential nutrients and must be palatable to the catfish. Feed types available include: meal, crumbles, floating pellets, or sinking pellets. The type of feed depends upon your pond types, water temperature, and goals for your fish. Regardless of the feed type, catfish should be fed twice a day (if possible) and you should avoid feeding in the early evening when oxygen concentrations in the water are decreasing.
The sixth and final step is to network and learn as much as you can about the industry. Talk to other successful farmers, research catfish farming on the Internet, and read catfish growing manuals. The more you learn in the initial phase, the more prepared you will when you start your farming operation. Following these steps will prepare you to join one of the largest and most important agriculture industries in the state of Alabama.
Even if you never want to become a catfish farmer, I sincerely hope you have learned a lot about the catfish industry in Alabama. We raise some of the safest and best tasting catfish in the world. The next time you go out to eat or purchase catfish at the grocery, please look to see if the fish has been grown in the United States. Not only is that catfish helping our economy, it is much safer for you to consume. Please support our local farmers and think of them when you purchase catfish. Join me in getting hooked on Alabama catfish.
Bibliography
ALFA Farmers. (2011). Serving Alabama Aquaculture. [Data file]. Retrieved January 2011 from http://alfa farmers.org/commodities/catfish.phtml
Catfish Farming. (n.d.). Retrieved from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catfish_farming
Durborow, R. (200). Catfish Farming in Kentucky. Retrieved from http://www.ksuaquaculture. org/pdfs/publications/catfish.pdf.
Miller, F. (n.d.) How to Start a Catfish Farm. EHow Article. Retrieved from http://www.ehow. com/how_5095662_start-catfish-farm.html
National Agriculture Statistics Service. (2011, January 28). Catfish Production. [Data file]. Retrieved January 2011 from http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/current /CatfProd/CatfProd-01-28-2011.pdf.
Weinstein, J. (2007, March 20). Advantages and Disadvantages to Catfish Farming [Web log comment]. Retrieved from http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_Advantages _and_the_disadvantages of_fish_farming.
Georgia is known for peaches, Kentucky is known for horses, Florida is known for oranges. But what is Alabama known for? Let me give you a hint: It is 2nd in the nation behind Mississippi, it employs 9,374 people, and we are known for having the world’s largest processing plant in this. Some of you have probably already figured out what it is, but if you haven’t, it is Catfish Farming.
Today I am here to discuss the importance of the catfish industry to the state of Alabama, what catfish farming is, and what producers need to know to get started in this industry.
Your first question may be what exactly is catfish farming? According to Wikipedia.org, “It is the principle form of aquaculture (which is farming in …show more content…
water). Catfish farming involves raising fish commercially in tanks, usually for food. Farmed raised catfish are a major part of the aquaculture industry because most of the catfish raised on farms are sold for human consumption. Great care must be taken to ensure that the fish are healthy and suitable for eating.
You may now be asking, exactly why is catfish farming so important to Alabama? Alabama’s catfish industry alone is worth a half a billion dollars; which ranks Alabama as the second largest producer in farmed raised catfish. The Alabama Catfish Producers report that Alabama farmers currently produce well over 100 million pounds of catfish per year and raise over 25 different species of catfish. In fact, Alabama is responsible for exporting catfish to all 50 states as well as Canada, Europe, and Asia.
The catfish industry is growing rapidly and, with more people becoming involved, it is important to be aware of both the joys and comforts of this way of life. One of the major advantages of this industry is the feeling of accomplishment from knowing you are providing a quality food source. Catfish contains “Essential nutrients, with a high protein value and low to moderate fat in comparison to animal products” (Weinstein, 2007). The industry is also providing a reliable food source to citizens around the world. Fish farming is already producing 50% of the fish used for human consumption and that number is expected to rise in upcoming years. As a potential future catfish farmer, it would be comforting to know that availability is another advantage. Catfish farms can be put almost anywhere there is a clean source of water.
Alabama catfish farmers provide a safe, sustainable, non-polluting alternative fish source that helps alleviate the stress on our oceans.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, 75% of the world’s fish species are overexploited or depleted. In addition, US catfish farms are self-contained and are not subjected to pollution. Aside from sustainability, imported catfish has been on the minds of Alabama farmers. Catfish from Vietnam and China has flooded the market in the last few years; the problem with this is that many foreign countries allow chemicals and drugs that are banned by the United States in farmed-raised catfish. According to the Catfish Farmers of America among the two percent of seafood imports from Vietnam inspected by the FDA during a recent a four-year period, nearly one and every five seafood shipments, including catfish, was contaminated with these potentially deadly chemicals or drugs. These contaminated shipments are a major cause of the recent COOL (Country of Origin Labeling) procedures. US farm-raised catfish is one of the most carefully inspected, regulated, and controlled proteins you can buy; a statement that catfish farmers stand on and are proud
of.
Now that you are aware of how important the industry is, as well as the advantages to catfish farming let me give you six simple steps in starting your own business.
The first thing you must decide is how you are going to market your catfish and create a marketing plan. Marketing usually refers to if you are going to sell to a processing plant or if you are going to market your fish yourself on a small-scale. Most farmers will sell to a processing plant. If you decide to take this marketing route, make sure that you call and create a contract with the plant before you begin producing fish.
Economic planning should be the second step in beginning a catfish farm. Create a sample fish farm budget by researching start up costs, expenses, and expected income. Make sure that catfish farming will be economical to you and your family.
The third step is to secure any permits required for aquaculture in the state. Permits may be required for all aspects of aquaculture production from pond construction to water discharge.
Growing a small family of catfish in the water you plan to use is the fourth step. Water is extremely important in catfish operations and you must ensure you have the right pH as well as maintaining the correct oxygen values. pH is a measurement of the acidity or alkalinity of the water and effects the toxicity of certain chemicals. Optimum pH for fish is about between 6.5 and 9.0. If the acetic value of the water you plan to grow your fish in is too high, you will need to lime the pond. Maintaining the correct oxygen values is a critical step in catfish production. Oxygen levels should be checked at least twice a day (at the same time every day) in the deep end. Oxygen depletion can quickly kill fish and is caused by many factors including pond turn-over and the dying off of algae. Methods of correcting oxygen depletions include: pumping oxygen rich water from adjacent ponds into your pond and using paddlewheel aerators.
Deciding when and what to feed your fish is the next (and fifth) step in the planning phase. “Feeding is the most important task in the intensive pond production of catfish” (Durborrow, 2000). Feed must contain all of the essential nutrients and must be palatable to the catfish. Feed types available include: meal, crumbles, floating pellets, or sinking pellets. The type of feed depends upon your pond types, water temperature, and goals for your fish. Regardless of the feed type, catfish should be fed twice a day (if possible) and you should avoid feeding in the early evening when oxygen concentrations in the water are decreasing.
The sixth and final step is to network and learn as much as you can about the industry. Talk to other successful farmers, research catfish farming on the Internet, and read catfish growing manuals. The more you learn in the initial phase, the more prepared you will when you start your farming operation. Following these steps will prepare you to join one of the largest and most important agriculture industries in the state of Alabama.
Even if you never want to become a catfish farmer, I sincerely hope you have learned a lot about the catfish industry in Alabama. We raise some of the safest and best tasting catfish in the world. The next time you go out to eat or purchase catfish at the grocery, please look to see if the fish has been grown in the United States. Not only is that catfish helping our economy, it is much safer for you to consume. Please support our local farmers and think of them when you purchase catfish. Join me in getting hooked on Alabama catfish.
Bibliography
ALFA Farmers. (2011). Serving Alabama Aquaculture. [Data file]. Retrieved January 2011 from http://alfa farmers.org/commodities/catfish.phtml
Catfish Farming. (n.d.). Retrieved from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catfish_farming
Durborow, R. (200). Catfish Farming in Kentucky. Retrieved from http://www.ksuaquaculture. org/pdfs/publications/catfish.pdf.
Miller, F. (n.d.) How to Start a Catfish Farm. EHow Article. Retrieved from http://www.ehow. com/how_5095662_start-catfish-farm.html
National Agriculture Statistics Service. (2011, January 28). Catfish Production. [Data file]. Retrieved January 2011 from http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/current /CatfProd/CatfProd-01-28-2011.pdf.
Weinstein, J. (2007, March 20). Advantages and Disadvantages to Catfish Farming [Web log comment]. Retrieved from http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_Advantages _and_the_disadvantages of_fish_farming.