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Pangasius catfish

Channel catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

  • Also known as

    Catfish, Lake Catfish, Spotted Cat, White Cat
  • Country or region

    United States
  • Body of water

    N/A
  • Farming method

    Ponds
  • Other details

    N/A

At a glance

Channel catfish farmed in the U.S. in ponds is rated green. U.S. catfish farms are usually sited on old agricultural lands in shallow ponds, and they can have beneficial effects by functioning as artificial wetlands. On average, ponds are drained about every 11 years, and there are no cumulative environmental impacts when draining occurs. Chemical use is well-regulated and safe, and the incidence of disease has declined over the last two decades. In addition, no fishmeal and fish oil are used in the feed, which is made primarily from agricultural crop-derived ingredients. The industry is also managed well, and extensive data are available.

Overall score: 7.620

  • Data Availability and Quality

    8.410

  • Effluent

    8.000

  • Habitat

    6.670

  • Chemical Use

    9.000

  • Feed

    7.560

  • Escapes and Introduced Species

    8.000

  • Pathogens and parasite interactions

    8.000

  • Source of Stock - Independence from wild capture fisheries

    0.000

  • Predator and wildlife mortalities

    -2.000

  • Escape of unintentionally introduced species

    -.300

FARMING METHOD

Ponds

Ponds enclose fish and crustaceans in a relatively shallow and usually small body of freshwater or saltwater. They may be inland or coastal and artificially- or naturally-formed. They vary considerably from simple, low-tech extensive ponds to sophisticated hyper-intensive ponds where farmers have significant control over the rearing process and pond conditions and production per hectare is very high. Silvoculture is another type of pond culture where trees, often mangroves, are grown together with fish or shrimp. Different species are also farmed alongside rice or other crops in paddy fields.

title

  • Data Availability and Quality

    The quality of published information about the farm’s impact on the environment.
  • Effluent

    The impact of farm waste that is released into the environment.
  • Habitat

    The impact a farm’s location or amount of production has on natural habitats, such as mangroves or wetlands.
  • Chemical Use

    The environmental impact of antibiotics and other chemicals released by the farm.
  • Feed

    The amount of wild fish and other sources of protein used to feed the farmed fish.
  • Escapes and Introduced Species

    The number of farmed fish that escape and their impact on the environment.
  • Pathogens and parasite interactions

    The impact of disease that spreads from farmed fish to wild populations.
  • Source of Stock - Independence from wild capture fisheries

    The amount of wild eggs or young fish used to support farmed fish.
  • Predator and wildlife mortalities

    The impact on wildlife populations that prey on farmed fish.
  • Escape of unintentionally introduced species

    The possibility that other non-native species, including pathogens and parasites, could be released into the environment.

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