Important operational changes that have gradually been assimilated and new approaches that are developing as part of the movement toward sustainable intensive aquaculture production systems are presented via historical, current, and future perspectives Improved environmental and economic sustainability based on increased efficiency of production continues to be realized As a result, aquaculture continues to reduce its carbon footprint through reduced greenhouse gas emissions Reduced use of freshwater and land resources per unit of production, improved feed management practices as well as increased knowledge of nutrient requirements, effective feed ingredients and additives, domestication of species, and new farming practices are now being applied or evaluated Successful expansion into culture of marine species, both off and on shore, offers the potential of substantial increases in sustainable intensive aquaculture production combined with integrative efforts to increase efficiency will principally contribute to satisfying the increasing global demand for protein and food security needs

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Achieving sustainable aquaculture: Historical and current perspectives and future needs and challenges

The economics of shrimp disease

Cost drivers and profitability of U.S. pond, raceway, and RAS aquaculture

Catfish farming continues to be the largest segment of U.S. aquaculture, and U.S. catfish farmers have demonstrated resilience and resourcefulness in adapting to changing economic conditions. Commercial production began in the 1950s–1960s, with growth leading to processing and marketing challenges in the 1970s. By the early 1980s, the key production, processing, and marketing pieces were in place to transform catfish farming into a major enterprise. Keys included development of efficient aerators, nutritionally complete feeds, multiple-batch production providing year-round supply of fish, processing innovations, and creation of The Catfish Institute (TCI) for marketing and public relations. The successful expansion into nontraditional catfish markets attracted competition of pangasius catfish imported from Vietnam by U.S. seafood importers, free riding on successful marketing programs. The 2003–2013 contraction of the U.S. industry was the combined effect of four external economic shocks; trough of price cycle; 2001 recession; September 11 terrorist attacks; and Vietnamese pangasius imports. Prices fell to historical lows and remained below production cost for 3 years. Adoption of intensive systems (split ponds, intensive aeration) that reduced costs led to steady growth from 2014 to 2019. Lessons for U.S. aquaculture include the importance of fingerling/seed technologies, farmer associations, research, Extension, marketing, and state/federal support.

Economic history of U.S. catfish farming: Lessons for growth and development of aquaculture

Economics of U.S. catfish farming practices: Profitability, economies of size, and liquidity

Economics of alternative catfish production technologies

Aquaculture research verification programs are designed to demonstrate and test research-based practices recommended by extension services on commercial-scale operations. From 2010 to 2013, in western Alabama, three management protocols were followed over three crop cycles on a farm producing hybrid catfish (female Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus × male Blue Catfish I. furcatus) using high levels of aeration. The protocols were an owner-defined, multiple-batch treatment and single-batch and multiple-batch treatments defined by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES). Results from nine production cycles were analyzed to calculate yields, feed conversion ratios (FCRs), cost of production, and net returns. Over three production cycles the owner-defined, multiple-batch treatment outperformed the two ACES-recommended treatments in terms of yield, survival, FCR, and net returns. The owner-defined treatment could vary, and the producer chose to feed above the recommended daily maximum and obs...

Research Verification of Production Practices Using Intensive Aeration at a Hybrid Catfish Operation

Research Verification of Single- and Multiple-Batch Production Practices at Two Channel Catfish Farms in Western Alabama

A headspace solid-phase micro-extraction (SPME) coupled with GS-MS method was used to measure volatile compounds in fillets from musty off-flavor, muddy off-flavor, and on-flavor channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), along with water and soil samples from the farm ponds in which the fish had been raised. Two ponds of each type of flavor were selected, and five fish, water, and soil samples were collected from each pond. Linear and multiple linear regression analyses were carried out between/among off-flavor strength and volatile compound contents to investigate their possible correlations. The combination of two strong off-flavor compounds, 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) and geosmin (GSM), was probably mainly responsible for the musty off-flavor in the catfish fillets, and an odorous alcohol, 1-hexanol, was correlated with muddy off-flavor (p = 0.015). There was a strong correlation between beta-cyclocitral and MIB in a pond that gave musty off-flavor catfish contents (p = 0.006), suggesting that these compounds might be generated by similar cyanobacteria. The contents of GSM, MIB, and beta-cyclocitral were high in the water of ponds that yielded off-flavor fish, indicating that catfish might acquire these compounds from pond water.

Lisa B. Bott

Papers

Economics of alternative catfish production technologies

Research Verification of Production Practices Using Intensive Aeration at a Hybrid Catfish Operation

Research Verification of Single- and Multiple-Batch Production Practices at Two Channel Catfish Farms in Western Alabama

Culture environment and the odorous volatile compounds present in pond-raised channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)