Call #5: Dowd Also Wrong on Catfish Research
-Sigh-
This is getting silly. First of all, in comparison to the war in Iraq and the bank bailout, $819,000 is not a lot of money, but never mind that: Maureen Dowd is also wrong on catfish research. I know, because I called The Fish Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology Laboratory at Auburn University, and spoke to a researcher there who told me that this kind of research is important because:
#1: the oceans are depleted and our national fisheries will not provide enough food in the future. Our seas are overharvested, and aquaculture also known as fish farming) is an important offset to this collapse;
#2: catfish happens to be the most important aquaculture species, accounting for 60% of production;
#3: in terms of the trade deficit, imported fish (mostly from Asia) adds $10 billion (might have been $2 billion, it came through kind of garbled) to the imbalance. That doesn’t even begin to account for the oil used to ship this fish. So US aquaculture offsets that deficit.
#4: the researcher pointed out how much contaminated food comes into the US from China:
Farmers have coped with the toxic waters by mixing illegal veterinary drugs and pesticides into fish feed, which helps keep their stocks alive yet leaves poisonous and carcinogenic residues in seafood, posing health threats to consumers.
Environmental degradation, in other words, has become a food safety problem, and scientists say the long-term risks of consuming contaminated seafood could lead to higher rates of cancer and liver disease and other afflictions.
YUK! According to the researcher I spoke to, you simply do not know what’s in that imported seafood from China. Aquaculture in the US, on the other hand, is regulated, and while not perfect, a lot better than what we get from Asia. Our standards are higher, because we’re responsible to the consumer. Locally grown food is better.
#5. Lower Alabama, like many rural economies, is in bad shape: aquaculture provides much needed jobs as this report from Auburn Univeristy indicates:
o Alabama aquaculture is worth $115 million to producers.
o Catfish farming alone is worth over $105+ million to Alabama producers.
o Approximately 2,700 (jobs) Alabamians are directly engaged in catfish production/processing.
o Alabama large-scale processors sell approximately $200 million of catfish products in all 50 states and internationally.
o Annual sales to catfish farmers by allied support industries is valued at approximately $90 million for feed, utilities, equipment, services, etc.
What does Maureen Dowd have against safe food, jobs for unemployed people in rural Alabama, and offsetting our trade deficit? And why am I making these calls on my dime to fact-check Maureen Dowd? I am going to call the New York Times and demand reimbursement!
