Catfish, Farmed U.S.

Catfish is farmed in many southeastern states in the U.S. Chemical usage on catfish farms is regulated much more stringently here than in other countries. Catfish do not need wild fish to be included in their diet, so farming them does not deplete wild fish populations, as does farming of many other species. U.S.-farmed catfish are not given any added hormones, and under normal growing conditions they are antibiotic-free. Most, catfish growers practice alternative methods of disease treatment to avoid the use of antibiotics, which are expensive and hard to obtain. Because catfish produce more waste when they are overfed, it is in both the economic and environmental interest of catfish farmers to avoid excess feeding. Waste produced by catfish in ponds typically sinks to the sediment in the bottom of the pond quite quickly, is broken down, and causes minimal impact to the environment. Ponds are often sited on or near cropland, and typically designed to capture rainwater to minimize the need for water to be pumped in. They are rarely drained.