Abstract

The catfish industry is the largest U.S. aquaculture sector and a major contributor to the rural economies of the Southern states of Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi. Economic contributions of this industry to the tristate region were estimated using an input-output modeling approach with the IMPLAN database and software (Impact Analysis for Planning MIG, Inc.). An analysis-by-parts approach was employed as the IMPLAN database does not disaggregate the catfish sector from other livestock industries which have expenditure patterns that differ substantially from those of catfish. All major actors of the catfish industry, i.e. feed mills, hatcheries, foodfish farms, and processing plants, were surveyed to obtain their expenditure patterns and output in terms of sales. Data were obtained from 68 farms (hatcheries and foodfish combined), four feed mills, and eight processing plants in the tristate region. Sales and expenditure values were converted to coefficients employing standard enterprise budgeting techniques and imported to the IMPLAN model for estimating industry contributions during 2019. The direct output from the catfish industry ($1.10 billion) generated a total economic contribution of $1.91 billion. The industry directly employed 4,298 people and created an additional 4,868 jobs in the tristate economy for a total employment effect of 9,166 jobs. Catfish industry spending created an indirect economic effect of $552 million in other secondary sectors that supplied production inputs and services. The induced economic effect generated from household spending amounted to $254 million. Some of the key sectors influenced by the catfish industry were grain farming, banking and financial institutions, truck transportation services, electricity generation, equipment, and machinery manufacturing. The industry also generated $78 million in local, state, and federal taxes. This study provides critical insights for policymakers and others into the contribution of the U.S. farm-raised catfish industry to local and regional economies as well as its diverse-industry interconnections.

摘要

鲶鱼产业是美国最大的水产养殖部门，也是南部阿拉巴马州、阿肯色州和密西西比州农村经济的主要贡献者。该行业对三州地区的经济贡献是使用 IMPLAN 数据库和软件（影响分析规划 MIG, Inc.）的输入-输出建模方法估算的。由于 IMPLAN 数据库没有将鲶鱼部门与支出模式与鲶鱼支出模式大不相同的其他畜牧业分开，因此采用了按部分分析的方法。鲶鱼行业的所有主要参与者，即饲料厂、孵化场、食用鱼养殖场和加工厂，都接受了调查，以了解他们的支出模式和销售产出。数据来自 68 个养殖场（孵化场和食用鱼合计），三州地区有四家饲料厂和八家加工厂。使用标准企业预算技术将销售和支出值转换为系数，并导入 IMPLAN 模型以估算 2019 年的行业贡献。鲶鱼行业的直接产出（11 亿美元）产生的经济贡献总额为 19.1 亿美元。该行业直接雇佣了 4,298 人，并在三州经济中创造了额外的 4,868 个就业岗位，总就业效应为 9,166 个。鲶鱼产业支出在提供生产投入和服务的其他第二产业中产生了 5.52 亿美元的间接经济影响。家庭支出产生的诱发经济效应达 2.54 亿美元。受鲶鱼产业影响的一些关键部门是粮食种植，银行和金融机构、卡车运输服务、发电、设备和机械制造。该行业还产生了 7800 万美元的地方、州和联邦税收。这项研究为决策者和其他人提供了关于美国农场养殖鲶鱼产业对当地和区域经济的贡献及其多元化产业相互联系的重要见解。