03/15/2006

History of Catfish Industry Highlighted at Upcoming Book Event

AUBURN, Ala. — A new book that recounts the captivating story of the catfish industry’s rise in Alabama as told by the people who lived and breathed the effort will be featured at a book signing Wednesday, March 22, at 4 p.m. in the Auburn University Libraries’ Special Collections and Archives department.

The book, Fishing for Gold: The Story of Alabama's Catfish Industry, was authored by Karni R. Perez, an independent researcher living in Auburn. Perez compiled the material at the request of faculty in the AU Department of Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures and catfish industry representatives, who wanted to record an oral history of the catfish industry. Funding for the project was provided by Southern Pride Processing Co., the Alabama Catfish Producers and the AU fisheries and allied aquacultures department.

The book includes oral histories collected from early hatchery owners, catfish farmers, processors and researchers, recounting 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 warmwater 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 an agricultural enterprise. The book is published by the University of Alabama Press.

The book signing, co-sponsored by the AU Libraries, the Alabama Center for the Book and the AU College of Agriculture, is open to the public. For more information on the event, contact Katie Jackson at 334-844-5887 or smithcl@auburn.edu.

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News from:

Office of Ag Communications & Marketing

Auburn University College of Agriculture
Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station
3 Comer Hall, Auburn University
Auburn, AL 36849
334-844-4877 (PHONE) 334-844-5892 (FAX)

Contact Jamie Creamer, 334-844-2783 or jcreamer@auburn.edu

3/15/2006

For immediate release