June 25th is National Catfish Day, a holiday established by President Ronald Reagan in 1987 to promote the importance of farmed catfish in the American diet.

According to Orange Beach, Alabama WebsiteCatfish farming dates back to the 1960s and began in the South, with its warm climate and abundant water. About 33 percent of the catfish produced in the United States comes from Alabama.

Catfish is a specialty dish in Alabama, and many restaurants, especially along the Gulf Coast, serve it grilled, blackened or fried.

In 2022, Cullman Tribune The report said Alabama's catfish industry has grown exponentially, becoming the second largest in the nation, with the Black Belt region in the west becoming a center of catfish farming.

RELATED: National Catfish Month: Alabama 'crucial' to national industry

“Because the soil has a high clay content, this area is a great place to create ponds that hold water well,” Luke Roy, associate professor of aquaculture with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, said in 2022. “The catfish industry is environmentally friendly and sustainable. Most of the catfish feed comes from plants, and the fish is high in protein. It's also a long-standing Southern tradition.”

Celebrate this important day in Alabama by eating catfish.

Michael Browner is a senior sports analyst and contributor to Yellow Hammer News. You can follow him on Twitter. translation: Listen to him weekdays from 6am to 9am. WNSP-FM 105.5's “Opening Kickoff” Available online for free.