Mississippi State University Extension Service

Jul 17, 2021

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Many restaurants in the South that serve catfish are having to pay distributors more to keep it on the menu -- or go without it, seafood experts say. The primary reason is labor shortages at processing plants, according to the Mississippi State University Extension Service. Processing was down 9% for the first five months of the year compared with the same period in 2020, WJTV-TV reported. The slow recovery in the industry's processing phase is due to several factors related to the pandemic, said Mississippi State economist Ganesh Kumar. Those include limits on how many people can work during the same shift while maintaining social distancing. Print Headline: Catfish at Southern restaurants limited ADVERTISEMENT All rights reserved. This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. Material from the Associated Press is Copyright © 2021, Associated Press and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing. All rights reserved.