The Facts

• Farm raised catfish are a major part of the aquaculture industry. Most of the catfish served in restaurants and purchased at grocery stores is farm-raised. Because most of the catfish that are raised at catfish farms are sold for human consumption, great care must be taken to ensure that the fish are healthy and suitable for eating.
  
  

Misconceptions

• Many people believe that catfish farmers are lazy individuals with a limited education. The exact opposite is actually true. Catfish farming is a round the clock business in which the catfish farmer must constantly check the water quality of the ponds. This often means getting out in the middle of the night or in inclement weather. As far as education is concerned, a catfish farmer has to have excellent math skills to determine the maximum pond load depending on the average size of the catfish. Math, chemistry and biology skills are needed to analyze water quality samples and make adjustments to the ponds. Many catfish farmers have at least an Associate's degree.
  
  

Risk Factors

• Catfish farming is a risky financial venture because catfish are living animals. Something as simple as a malfunctioning filtration system or a sudden temperature change can cause the fish to get sick and possibly die. In an attempt to prevent this from happening, catfish farmers must take great care to monitor the fish, even during unpleasant weather. Additionally, catfish farmers may loose some fish to midnight fishermen and poachers.
  
  

Geography

• A catfish farmer must carefully consider the lay of the land and the climate when deciding on a location for the pond. For example, an area that is floods or an area that is near farmland aren't good options because both of these situations can affect water quality. An area that has suitable drainage, adequate lighting and established roads would be an ideal place for a catfish farm.
  
  

Type

• There are three types of catfish pond systems in which catfish farmers raise catfish. The first is a levee pond. In this type of pond, the earth is built up 6 to 8 feet on all sides to enclose the pond. It is then filled up with water. Watershed ponds are the second type of pond that catfish farmers can build to raise catfish. These ponds are made by building a dam around the bottom of a sloping area. This catches water to fill up the pond. The third type of system is the cage system. This is a good option for catfish farmers who have large ponds. They simply place cages into the pond to corral the catfish. The size of the cages depends on the farmers preferences.