History of Catfish Industry Highlighted in New Book
Fishing for Gold: The Story of Alabama’s Catfish Industry is the captivating story of the catfish industry’s rise in Alabama as told by the people who lived and breathed the effort…and the story has come to life thanks to the talents of an Auburn writer and CoAg faculty.
Karni R. Perez, an independent researcher living in Auburn, compiled the material at the request of Conner Bailey, a professor in the CoAg Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, and John Jensen, former head of the CoAg Department of Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures and former CoAg dean. Bailey and Jensen had discussed the idea of recording an oral history of the catfish industry and, after several years of talking this idea up among catfish industry leaders, finally received funding for the project from Southern Pride Processing Co., the Alabama Catfish Producers and the fisheries and allied aquacultures department.
Karni R. Perez
The book includes oral histories Perez collected from early hatchery owners, catfish farmers, processors and researchers to recount the important contributions made by Alabamians to the channel catfish industry. Perez describes the struggles and glories of fish culture from its early days as an experimental venture to the thriving present-day commercial enterprise that supplies warm-water fish for the American food industry.
In addition to telling the remarkable stories of individual contributions by farmers and researchers, Perez explains the positive effects played by improved public infrastructure, continued biological research, state legislation and federal recognition of aquaculture as agriculture.
A book signing will be held in Auburn during March. For more information on the signing or on how to purchase the book, which is being published through the University of Alabama Press, contact Katie Jackson at 334-844-5887 or smithcl@auburn.edu.