THE PROBLEM: Catfish is king in the U.S. aquaculture industry: The sector has the highest dollar value and greatest product output. In 2019, catfish farming and support industries (including feed mills and processing plants) contributed $1.91 billion and 9,166 jobs across Alabama, Arkansas and Mississippi, where catfish production is concentrated. Over 90% of the catfish fry (offspring) are currently produced at 13 hatcheries located in Mississippi and Arkansas, where the fish are raised and often sold to independent farmers to continue growing until they become large enough to sell. In this thriving market, catfish farmers want genetically improved broodstock (parent fish) with desirable traits, but conducting long-term genetic improvement programs has not been feasible. 

THE SOLUTION: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Warmwater Aquaculture Research Unit (WARU) used sophisticated genetic and genomic selection techniques to produce a line of channel catfish called Delta Select. Researchers developed the Delta Select catfish to have a 25 percent increase in growth rate and 0.9 percent greater carcass yield; growth rate and carcass yield are two of the most important factors in making catfish farming more economically efficient. In March 2020, ARS released 180,000 pounds (90,000 head) of Delta Select channel catfish broodstock to 12 commercial catfish producers.   

THE TECH TRANSFER MECHANISM: To market its channel catfish selective breeding program to commercial producers, WARU gave presentations at scientific and industry meetings published in the primary industry publication. Since researchers had a limited supply of Delta Select germplasm (genetic material used in breeding), they maximized its impact by choosing hatcheries with histories of producing catfish fry and the ability to reproduce the Delta Select line; catfish industry representatives were consulted about the release strategy and agreed that this was the best approach. In 2020, 12 catfish producers signed a Material Transfer Research Agreement and then received 2-year-old Delta Select catfish that had been grown to that point in WARU ponds.  

THE IMPACT: The release of the Delta Select channel catfish line provides U.S. catfish farmers with a product with better performance and increased profitability. Of the 12 producers that received Delta Select germplasm, one has converted entirely to Delta Select, two more plan to fully convert in 2024 and others plan to dedicate portions of their production to the Delta Select catfish. One recipient has also sold Delta Select catfish to a hatchery that did not participate in the 2020 release, expanding the reach of this transfer. In 2024, just four years after WARU’s 2020 germplasm release, catfish fry production could be up to 50% Delta Select line catfish. This release of Delta Select catfish will be the most widely incorporated release of improved germplasm to the catfish industry since its inception in the U.S. This T2 effort benefits consumers across the U.S. by reducing catfish production costs and keeping consumer prices down. Another release is planned for 2024.