Abstract
Aquaculture of channel catfish is an industry with an annual worth of hundreds of millions of dollars. Catfish farms in the United States are, for the most part, confined to the south central region and in California. Their commercial success depends on a climate which produces a sufficiently long growing season and an abundant supply of shallow groundwater. The proximity to markets is also essential. The temperature range for maximum growth of the species is 24°C–29°C with the growth rate rapidly decreasing as the upper lethal temperature — about 35°C — is approached. Growth below 13°C is negligible.
We review the thermal requirements for growth in catfish and examine the role that climate (air temperature and precipitation) plays in limiting the distribution of profitable fish farms. A model is constructed from these relationships which permits the prediction of changes of this distribution resulting from climate warming.
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McCauley, R., Beitinger, T. Predicted effects of climate warming on the commercial culture of the channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus . GeoJournal 28, 61–66 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00216407
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00216407