The water surface area to be used for catfish production in the three major producing States (Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi) during July 1 through December 31, 2020, totaled 54,800 acres, down 5 percent from a year ago.
Acres used for foodsize fish totaled 43,500, down 6 percent from the same time period in 2019. Acres used for fingerling production at 6,620 acres are down 11 percent, and acres for broodfish at 1,525 acres are down 12 percent.
Of the total acres in production, 2,060 were scheduled to be renovated from July 1, 2020, to December 31, 2020, while acres taken out of production during the January 1, 2020, through June 30, 2020, period totaled 1,595 acres.
Foodsize Inventory down 5 Percent
Catfish operations in the three major producing States had 106 million foodsize fish on hand on July 1, 2020, down 5 percent from July 1, 2019.
The breakouts of foodsize fish inventory numbers on July 1, 2020, with their respective percent change from the previous year were:
- large foodsize, 2.49 million fish, up 3 percent;
- medium foodsize, 26.3 million fish, down 15 percent; and
- small foodsize, 76.7 million fish, down 1 percent.
The three major States also had 515,000 broodfish on hand on July 1, 2020, down 29 percent from last year’s 730 thousand broodfish.
Catfish operations in the three major producing States had 325 million stockers on hand on July 1, 2020, up 10 percent from the July 1, 2019, total of 296 million stockers.
The breakouts of stocker fish inventory numbers on July 1, 2020, with their respective change from the previous year were:
- large stockers, 148 million fish, down slightly; and
- small stockers, 177 million, up 20 percent from last year.
Producers had 469 million fingerlings and fry on hand on July 1, 2020, down 8 percent from July 1, 2019.
