Economist: Imports squeezing out US catfish industry

The rising volume of imports from China and other Asian nations, coupled with increasing production costs, is putting pressure on US catfish farmers.

“The industry has been contracting,” David Harvey, agricultural economist for the US Food and Drug Administration told IntraFish. Statistics show that catfish feed purchases have been consistently declining for the past five years, he said.

The high cost of feed and imports of cheaper catfish and similar species from Asia are making it difficult for catfish farmers to stay competitive, Lowery Aquafarms owner Joey Lowery told IntraFish.

Imports