NASEM Committee Announces Findings Between Seafood Consumption and Child Growth 

A committee with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) hosted a webinar this week, examining the connection between seafood consumption — particularly in women of a child bearing age, pregnant and breastfeeding women — and child growth and development. 

The Committee on the Role of Seafood Consumption in Child Growth and Development looked at finfish, shellfish, mollusks, crustaceans, and marine and freshwater fish. The aim of this research was to better understand the nutritional benefits of seafood consumption weighed against the health risks. The group found that...

Politicians Claim Victory For U.S. Catfish Farmers Following Vietnam Administrative Review

On March 14 the International Trade Administration and Department of Commerce released a notice in the Federal Register announcing final results and partial rescission of administrative review for certain frozen fish fillets from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. According to the document, the Department of Commerce determined that Vietnamese exporter Vinh Hoan “did not sell subject merchandise in the United States at prices below normal value during the period of review from August 1, 2021 through July 31, 2022.” At the same time, the Department of Commerce also determined...

USDA Opens Purchase Request For Catfish Products

This week the USDA released an open purchase request bid invitation for catfish products.

According to the document, the USDA is seeking a total of 342,000 lbs of catfish fillets that are raw and unbreaded. They are also seeking 462,000 lbs of catfish strips that are breaded and oven ready.

Just last month the USDA released an open purchase request for 5,700,000 lbs of raw, unbreaded catfish fillets. A number of companies had their bids accepted, including Americas Catch, which was awarded a quantity of 2,850,000 lbs not to exceed the award value...

ANALYSIS: Catfish, Pangasius, and Tilapia Markets Soften into Summer 

Imported aquaculture species including catfish and tilapia from China, as well as pangasius/swai from Vietnam have experienced some price softening due to an overabundance of supply relative to current demand trends. While catfish and pangasius markets have seen a gradual retreat over the past few weeks across all sizes, tilapia remained mostly steady until recently where smaller sized fillets were the first to report discounts...

Maryland Lawmakers Visit Tilghman Island Seafood to Highlight Funding for Blue Catfish Processing

U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin visited Tilghman Island Seafood in Maryland last week to highlight recently secured funding for blue catfish. The facility — which is the only USDA-certified blue catfish processor on the state’s Eastern Shore — processes 2,000 pounds of blue catfish a day. 

Due to the facility’s high volume output, the senators used the visit to focus on the FY24 agriculture appropriations bill, which supports catfish processing and protects other species in the Chesapeake Bay.

Because the fish can...

Cassidy, Wicker, Colleagues Introduce Resolution to Designate August as National Catfish Month

U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Ted Cruz (R-TX), John Kennedy (R-LA), Katie Britt (R-AL), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Mike Braun (R-IN), John Boozman (R-AR), and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), introduced a Senate resolution to designate August 2023 as National Catfish Month.

The resolution recognizes the importance of U.S. catfish to our economy and praises catfish farmers and workers for their contributions to the industry...

USDA Looking to Purchase 470,000 Pounds of Catfish Products

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said it was looking to buy 470,000 pounds of catfish products for use in domestic food distribution programs. Bids to sell catfish products are due by May 15.

Acceptances will be announced by 5 p.m. CT on May 22 and deliveries will be made between July 1 and December 30, 2023.

The solicitation was a 100% Small Business Set Aside for both unbreaded raw catfish fillets and breaded oven ready catfish strips...