The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded $2 million to two seafood processors in Maryland and Illinois to expand capacity for processing invasive, wild-caught catfish.
The grants were issued through the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program and are aimed at reducing invasive catfish populations – particularly in the Chesapeake Bay – while creating economic opportunity in rural communities.
“This investment in the processing of invasive wild-caught catfish not only solves a problem but also adds to the list of ways Secretary Rollins and the USDA are supporting President Trump’s America First agenda by investing in economic opportunity and prosperity in rural communities,” said J.R. Claeys, administrator of USDA Rural Business-Cooperative Programs.
BSA Seafood LLC in Denton, Maryland, received $1 million to purchase and install equipment at its facility. The expansion will allow the company to purchase invasive blue catfish from regional watermen, process them and produce value-added products distributed directly to restaurants, retailers, cash-and-carry operations and institutions. The project is expected to result in more than 500,000 pounds of invasive blue catfish processed annually, creating 20 full-time jobs and retaining 15.
Chippin Inc., a primary fish processor and pet food brand headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, received $1 million for facility upgrades and specialized equipment at its processing facility in Valmeyer, Illinois. The upgrades will help the company bring catfish to scale in the pet food market.
The grants carry implications for grocery retailers and foodservice buyers. BSA Seafood’s expanded processing capacity could increase the availability of domestically sourced, wild-caught catfish products in retail and institutional channels. The invasive blue catfish has gained traction as a sustainable protein option, and expanded processing infrastructure addresses a key bottleneck in getting the product to market.
The Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program provides grants to eligible independent processors to expand capacity and improve supply chain resiliency. Eligible applicants include for-profit and nonprofit entities, producer-owned cooperatives, Tribes, state and local government entities and other business types. Under this funding round, applicants’ facilities must be engaged in processing invasive wild-caught catfish and physically located in the U.S. or its territories.
USDA has awarded more than $200 million to independent businesses under the program, creating thousands of jobs across the country.
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Will these plants produce human consumption catfish to be placed in stores?