Catfish are a very popular food fish. They are known for their long barbels, which makes the fish look like a cat, thus the name, catfish. They are the backbone of aquaculture worldwide. Catfish generate a whoping 46% of all aquaculture production in the United States. The sales of catfish from American growers for 2007 came in at an unbelievable 445 million dollars.
Channel catfish are the most popular type of catfish. These fish are bottom feeders and are typically raised in mud ponds. They will grow from a six inch long fingerling to a size of 1.25 to 1.5 pounds in approximately 210 days, in optimal water temperatures (65F or above). They are harvested in one of two manners, either by batch harvesting or cull harvesting. In batch harvesting, the pond is drained and all the fish are removed at once.
If an aquafarmer chooses to harvest his fish by culling, which is the most popular method, the fish are seined, and only the marketable fish are taken; leaving the smaller fish in the pond to continue their growth.
The popularity of catfish began to grow in the 1980's and the demand for them has been ever increasing. One reason for the boon is that many restaurants now have catfish on the menu. In recent years, several nationwide fast food chains have added catfish to their fare and this has served to increase the need for more of the fish than ever.
Catfish are a hardy breed and they tolerate a wide range of habitats and conditions. They can thrive in crowded ponds and while their optimal environment temperature is 65F, they can survive a broad fluctuation from at or around freezing up to a high of nearly 100F. They are easily spawned, although they do not naturally reproduce in culture ponds, which is preferred because spawning can be controlled by the farmer, thus reducing the risk of overcrowding.