Commercial Fishermen v. Aquaculture

Dallas City, IL – Corporate fish production and commercial fishermen are battling for market share and a continuation of a way of life. Commercial fishermen on Illinois rivers say aquaculture is depressing their market for fish. Operators of fish farms say their product is free of pollutants such as PCBs that are in some river-raised fish. Commercial fishermen say raising fish in confined ponds makes them more susceptible to disease and more likely to be treated with chemicals and antibiotics. Fish farmers are also facing stiff competition from southern states and from aquaculture operations in foreign low-wage countries.