Catfish is the leading aquaculture species in the United States and over 90% of production occurs in the three southeast states of Mississippi, Alabama and Arkansas. Historically, farm-raised channel catfish were only spawned in the spring in ponds from which eggs were collected and reared in hatcheries. Recently more ponds have been stocked with hybrid catfish, which require artificial spawning procedures. Fry are hatched and reared indoors and once they reach fingerling size they are stocked into ponds for grow-out. The veterinarian assisting with catfish operations needs to have an understanding of pond culture and husbandry to gain the trust of farmers so they may assist them with disease related problems, but also when non-disease issues arise such as controlling blue-green algae blooms that result in off-flavor catfish and possible reduced sales.