The debate started with the 2008 farm bill, which called for the U.S. Department of Agriculture to take over seafood inspections, including catfish, from the Food and Drug Administration. It grew fiercer after a Government Accountability Office report in May found that the UDSA's new catfish inspection program cost taxpayers almost $20 million in its set up phase, without having yet inspected a single fish.
In July, Missouri Rep. Vicky Hartzler proposed an amendment to the farm bill to fry the seemingly wasteful program.
Hartzler's amendment was similar to an amendment proposed in the Senate by Senators John McCain and John Kerry, who pointed out that few Americans have ever been sickened by catfish, and that the Centers for Disease Control calls it a "low risk" fish.
Their amendment was approved in June, but Hartzler's amendment in the House bill went nowhere. Arkansas Rep. Rick Crawford, whose constituents include catfish producers, helped efforts to keep the catfish inspection program in the farm bill.
"Advocates for Ms. Hartzler's proposal completely ignore the dangers posed by banned substances which have been discovered in shipments of catfish," Crawford told the Delta Farm Press of his decision to support the program.
It is unclear what substances Crawford was referring to. An outbreak of Salmonella-caused illnesses in 1991 believed to be caused by catfish was never clearly linked to the fish, according to GAO.
Producers of catfish argued that the new USDA program was needed because the FDA's inspection had been too lax.
But the FDA program is also much cheaper: The USDA estimates its new program would cost $14 million per year, while the FDA currently spends $700,000.
Crawford did not respond to a request for comment, but House Agriculture Committee chairman Rep. Frank Lucas talked to reporters after the Farm Bill was approved last month, saying he was “overjoyed” the USDA catfish inspection program remained intact.
The Agricultural Committee referred request for comment to the USDA, which did not immediately respond.
The five-year farm bill passed out of the House Agriculture Committee last month, but its future—and the future of catfish—remains uncertain.
The industry advocacy group the National Fisheries Institute doesn't see the sense in spending more. Lucas "bowed to special-interest pressure," said Gavin Gibbons, director of media relations for the National Fisheries Institute. "There is no doubt the House Agriculture Committee has catapulted this program to 'Bridge To Nowhere' status."
In Washington, the Bridge to Nowhere has come to mean any project fueled by wasteful government spending.Former FDA food safety czar Dr. David Acheson agrees, writing on his consulting firm's blog last week that the whole debate is a "wasteful saga."
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached $394 million in October 2024, up 24%. In the first ten months of this year, shrimp exports brought in $3.2 billion, up 13% compared to the same period last year. Exports to all major markets recorded double-digit growth in October.
International Development and Investment Corporation (IDI), a key member of the Sao Mai Group, has consistently ranked among the largest seafood producers and exporters in Vietnam.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In recent years, the US has consistently been Vietnam’s largest seafood export market. Over the past five years, seafood export turnover to the US has ranged from 1.5 billion USD to 2.1 billion USD anually. Despite facing strict protective policies such as anti-dumping and countervailing duties, U.S. market demand remains high, and the quality of Vietnamese seafood continues to improve, helping to maintain and expand its position in this market.
(seafood.vasep .com.vn) The return of Donald Trump to the White House for a second term will bring significant impacts on Vietnam, particularly its pangasius export sector. Trump's economic policies, such as raising import tariffs, reducing corporate income taxes, and attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) back to the US, are expected to directly influence various industries in Vietnam.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The UAE ranked 16th among importers of Vietnamese shrimp from 2018 to 2022, accounting for approximately 0.5% of Vietnam's total shrimp export value. Annually, Vietnam exported around US$20 million worth of shrimp to this market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The company also announced that its farms are well-prepared and will begin stocking in mid-November when the weather conditions are favorable.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) To maximize natural advantages and increase the value of local aquatic products, Ca Mau province is promoting the ecological shrimp farming model under mangrove forests. This model not only brings high profits to people thanks to businesses committing to purchasing products at prices 10-20% higher than the market price but also aims for sustainable development and environmental friendliness.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was signed after just over a year of negotiations. With high demand for premium seafood in the UAE, particularly for shrimp and tuna products, Vietnam’s tuna industry is expected to gain increased export opportunities and higher product value thanks to the preferential terms of the CEPA.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In October 2024, seafood exports from Vietnam are estimated to exceed $1 billion, marking a 28% increase compared to the same period last year. This achievement signifies the first return to the $1 billion milestone in 27 months, since June 2022, providing a significant boost for Vietnamese seafood enterprises.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Under the theme "Dong Thap Pangasius: Green Journey - Green Value," the Dong Thap Pangasius Festival 2024 will take place over two days, November 16th and 17th, at Vo Nguyen Giap Square in Hong Ngu City.
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