Alabama’s catfish farmers have reeled in a big win, thanks to the efforts of Sen. Tommy Tuberville.

Tuberville (R-Auburn), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, said Friday the Biden Administration reversed its decision to reduce an anti-dumping duty Vietnam-owned/operated producers.

“This announcement is great news for Alabama’s catfish farmers,” said Tuberville. “Alabama is the number two state in American catfish production, raising one-third of the world’s catfish. As a former catfish restaurant owner, I know firsthand how critical catfish are to our economy.

“As Alabama’s voice on the Senate Ag Committee, I’ll always stand up for Alabama’s catfish farmers against the Biden administration’s overreach.”

Alabama is home to approximately 66 farm-raised catfish farms, mainly in the Black Belt Region, which encompass approximately 15,000 acres of surface water area.

The catfish industry employs more than 2,400 people and contributes nearly $92 million in economic value to Alabama.

In January, Tuberville sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo requesting that the Biden Administration not change Vietnam’s designation as a non-market economy, which prompted the proposal to lower the tariff.

Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.