Catfish Industry in Alabama

The catfish industry in Alabama began in 1960 with a small channel catfish hatchery in Greensboro, Hale County [1]. Chester O. Stephens, Richard True and Bryant Allen formed the STRAL Company, and their first spawning in summer 1961 produced nearly 50,000 fry. About 3,000 people work in the industry, and Greensboro is called the catfish capital.

Processors

STRAL Processing Company, in 1967, was the first catfish processor to use a skinning machine, and Nebraska Consolidated Mills bought it in 1969. Joe Glover founded Farm Fresh Catfish Company in 1970. Southern Pride Catfish Company, founded in Demopolis and Greensboro after 1983, became the leading U.S. processor and was sold to American Seafoods Group in 2003 [1]. See Demopolis.

Milestones

Processors formed marketing associations to promote catfish in 1971, and about 1975 Lenson Montz and Otis Breland built a paddle-wheel aerator now used on nearly all farms. The Alabama Fish Farming Center opened in Greensboro in 1983 [1].

Challenges

Early overproduction lowered prices, and feed costs, low oxygen and disease caused losses. In the 2000s rising feed prices, the 2008 recession, the bacterium Aeromonas hydrophila and higher energy costs hurt the industry, but competition from Vietnam and China was the biggest factor. Alabama produced 120 million pounds in 2016, about one-third of the U.S. total, and output has since remained level. Black Belt farms also raise shrimp, crawfish and tilapia [1]. See Black Belt.

Origins

Alabama catfish farming began in 1960 with a small channel catfish hatchery in Greensboro, Hale County, started by Chester Check Stephens, Richard True and Bryant Allen; their 1961 spawning produced nearly 50,000 fry. Joe Glover joined True and Stephens in 1967 to form STRAL Processing Company, the first processor to use a skinning machine, sold in 1969 to Nebraska Consolidated Mills, later ConAgra.[2]

Production and jobs

In 2016 Alabama produced about 120 million pounds of catfish, one-third of the U.S. total of 363 million pounds, with sales near 0 million, or 34 percent of national sales. Dallas, Greene and Hale counties lead production, and Greensboro is called the catfish capital. About 3,000 people work in the industry, which grew strongly, declined in the 2000s and has since leveled off.[2]

Innovation and challenges

Lenson Montz and Otis Breland built a paddle-wheel aerator around 1975, now used on nearly every Alabama farm. Early problems included market gluts, low oxygen, disease and FDA treatment limits; later ones were feed costs, a bacterial strain and competition from Vietnam and China. Southern Pride Catfish, based in Demopolis and Greensboro, became the leading U.S. processor and was sold to American Seafoods Group in 2003.[2]

FAQs

When did it begin? 1960.

What share of U.S. catfish is Alabama? About one-third in 2016.

Sources

1. Encyclopedia of Alabama: Catfish Industry
2. Encyclopedia of Alabama: Catfish Industry

Editorially reviewed by Specialty Digest Editorial TeamLast reviewed November 10, 2026Researched and drafted with AI assistanceReport an issue