The other day in class we talked about the Catfish industry and Professor McKinney wanted me to post a blog about the industry as well as catfish noodling... so here it is. Make sure you check out the link at the bottom of this post to see catfish noodling, because it's the real deal in the South.
Catfish is the leading aquaculture industry in the United States. Commercial catfish production generates over 46 percent of the value of aquaculture production in the United States. From the first commercial production in ponds in the 1960s, catfish production has grown rapidly to reach annual sales of 660 million pounds in 2003. The value of the catfish crop in the United States reached $425 million in 2003. Mississippi, in accord with its acreage, reported the greatest value (approximately $243 million in 2003). Check out the link below to read the full article...
http://msucares.com/aquaculture/catfish/index.html
In class we talked about how the US catfish industry is being negatively affected by foreign catfish markets because price per pound is about a $1 difference. Due to US labor and wage rates being significantly higher than these foreign markets there is no way that the U.S catfish industry can compete with price. However, as you can see the catfish industry is the leading aquaculture industry in the US, generating almost 50% of aquaculture production. What do you think can be done to save the U.S catfish industry as a whole from losing these production rates, profits, and corresponding jobs?
Catfish Noodling Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biL-QcviQGk
First of all, I can't believe the video. Aren't there gators in those waters?! I'm not sure what can be done to save the catfish industry here in the U.S. but I think something definitely needs to be done. When we talked about it in class I had no idea that catfish generated almost half of the value of aquaculture production in the nation. That's huge.
ReplyDeleteAlthough it would give fisherman an unfair advantage if the government intervened in some way, I think it may be a necessary action considering how many jobs would be lost if this industry leaves for Asia. It is interesting to me that a politician said something along the lines of, "The fishermen aren't in support of a global economy." Is the politician concerned completely with the global economy? If so, why care if the U.S. unemployment rate is so high? China is doing well.
Not only is globalization exploitative to the workers overseas, but it is also one of the main factors in America’s high unemployment rates. In my opinion, the only things that the leaders of large corporations care about are personal wealth, power, high-profits and company growth. Even though everyone realizes that unemployment rates are a huge problem right now in America, none of these corporations that seem to be the most powerful forces in society appear to be making any effort to try to lower these rates. Again, these corporate leaders only care about making money, and they don’t care that their outsourcing and “globalization” is severely hurting our economy.
ReplyDeleteLike I mentioned in a prior response (see my comment under Capitalism: a love story), I think that if more corporations followed a values-led business approach like Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream (by incorporating social values into day-to-day business activities such as sourcing locally), there would be many more job opportunities in America which would significanly help our economy.
Noodleing-- not only are there gators but snakes and snapping turtles also live in the same type of hole that the fish do...
ReplyDeleteI believe the best way to control this industry is to enforce quality control laws aka limit metals present in the fish. Quality control will help not only public health but perhaps help out the good ol boys.
If one of the main problems presented by these fishermen is the high price of catfish due to labor cost, maybe they shouldn't be rolling so deep in their ventures.. I understand there are many dangers when noodling, but I don't think it is necessary to have six or more people go out together and have a small party out on the water. It seems like a very exciting and rewarding venture and makes me wonder how they do it in asia. Either way, it looks like a two man job... 3 man tops, so maybe they can controll their costs a little better with some more efficient labor strategies.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like a very unfair challenge these days when any industry is forced to compete with Asian countries and their unbelievably low cost methods towards production.. Has there been any government regulations actioned in any other industry? Say, the toy or plastic industry?
The comment by the politician is, um, interesting. The fisherman are being selfish but then again that is part of them being economic men. Economics makes us think in terms of ONE country, ONE economy. The whole world has to yet start functioning like one huge economy and until that happens, the government needs to protect the local industries in its own economy!
ReplyDelete