Ictalurus punctatus is a nocturnal catfish species native to North America (St. Lawrence-Great Lakes, Hudson Bay, and Missouri-Mississippi rivers basins) and highly invasive in most of the USA, in some European countries, and Japan. In the US, it is dominating the aquaculture industry; worldwide, its production is highest in China, and it is also cultured in Cuba, Mexico, Russia, and Bulgaria. In aquaculture, it is often hybridised with the related species Ictalurus furcatus, and it can be co-cultured with this and with other species such as Polyodon spathula, Oreochromis niloticus, Pimephales promelas, and Lepomis microlophus. Escapees can be a threat to local populations of FISHES. There is a common high-standard slaughter method in place, and it is cultured with appropriate substrate and depth. However, further information is needed on stress during husbandry procedures and on the proportion of malformations in farms. There are several reports of natural spawning in farming conditions, and there is some potential to improve home range, migration needs, and aggregation needs and to reduce aggression levels.
