U.S. catfish production is down year-on-year in terms of fish numbers, but up in terms of weight, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The report, released by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, indicates the water surface acres used for catfish production and the foodsize inventory of catfish in the three major producing states – Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi – are both down. However, live-weight statistics indicate that despite having fewer fish in the water, the overall weight of the fish is up.
The water surface area to be used for catfish production in the three states from 1 July to 31 December, 2023, will be 50,300 acres, down 3 percent from the same period last year. While acres used for food-sized fish – fish between 0.75 pounds to over 3 pounds destined for sale as food – is up 1 percent. The area used for broodfish is up 12 percent to 2,050 acres, the area used for fingerling production is down 6 percent to 6,260 acres…
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