Catfish shortage is hurting restaurants all across the United States. It seems that the price of fuel and / or the price of corn have affected the catfish supply. While others more skeptical think that we are over fishing catfish and that the U.S. will soon run out of catfish and we will be forced to adhere to a catfish fishing ban.


It seems that the price of fuel has had it's effect on the price of corn and the price of corn has had it's effect on the catfish farmers feed supply and how many cats they can effectively raise and sell. All that considered it's taking it's toll on the catfish restaurant business.  While others more skeptical think that we are over fishing catfish and that the U.S. will soon run out and a catfish ban may ensue. Some catfish suppliers in Mississippi have cut back on production since many independent farmers have reduced pond acreage or quit the industry all together.

Another major contributing factor is the fact that government subsidies has motivated some catfish farmers to switch to corn production for ethanol fuel  instead of "corn for feed". Others speculate that the tainted Asian imports have increased demand for U.S. farm raised catfish. Needless to say, less supply and a greater demand have increased catfish prices 30 to 35 percent since the first of 2011. Take into consideration, now that people have heard of a "catfish shortage," these same people are craving catfish simply because they think it'll no longer be made available. It's the "power of suggestion."

Finally, a proposed legislation that would require restaurants to disclose where their catfish comes from is now pending in the senate committee, that alone will cause the prices to rise again because of the demand on "American Grain-fed Farm-raised Catfish." Some of the smaller restaurant/restaurant chains do not disclose where their fish comes from. Under this new legislation, transparency will be the law. Supermarkets however, have had to disclose the origin of their fish for years now and some think it's time restaurants should comply as well.

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