Around the country, catfish finds its way onto menus and dinner tables providing tasty, tasty healthy meals, breakfast, lunch and dinner!
Farm-raised catfish not only provide improved opportunities for employment, but the tender white meat is flavorful and abundant. These filets make for wonderful conversations while sharing time-honored recipes and around the dinner table enjoying the feast!
HOW TO OBSERVE
Go fishing for catfish or just purchase some to cook up and eat. Post on social media using #NationalCatfishMonth to encourage others to do the same.
HISTORY
National Catfish Month has been observed since 1988 in recognition of both the industry surrounding the fish, but it’s also dedicated to the versatile and sustainable food that catfish has become.
Aquaculture is the production of aquatic animals and plants under controlled conditions for all or parts of their lifecycles. Interest in aquacultural production is on the rise because restrictions on the wild harvest of many seafood species may diminish wild harvest seafood supplies. During the last two decades, the value of U.S. aquacultural production rose to nearly $1 billion.(USDA 2012)
The History of Aquaculture in Illinois:
- Prior to 2000 – Aquaculture in Illinois was limited to a few commercial catfish farming operations and production of fingerlings for stocking of private ponds and lakes.
- Beginning in 2000 – The Illinois Fish Farmers Cooperative boosted the development of the aquaculture industry by promoting farming of channel catfish, making available technical services, processing, and marketing.
- During 2003 – Low prices on catfish due to foreign competition forced the shutdown of the fish processing facility, and caused farmers to consider alternative and more profitable fish species.
- In 2004 – Former Governor Blagojevich abolished the funding that provided needed technical assistance and marketing to the aquaculture industry.
- In 2005 – Sen. Luechtefeld secured funding to continue technical assistance to the aquaculture industry in Illinois through SIU.
- June 2006 - Illinois Department of Agriculture refused to renew funding for Illinois Aquaculture TechSERV after July 1, 2006.
- July 2006 – Limited funding was secured through the IL. Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity(DCEO) for an estimated 1 year period.
- September 2007-Present – The majority of the funding for aquaculture is generated by brokerage fees on fish sales from fish farms to cover technical services and marketing provided by the IATS program at SIU.
Fish in a Bottle