Parasites From Fish Collected in Proximity to Catfish Cages

An investigation was conducted to determine the effects of cage culturing channel catfish, lctalurus punctatus (Rafinesque), on the native fish found in proximity to the cages. Monogenetic trematodes and copepods parasitizing fish collected were identified to genus. Nine genera of monogenetic trematodes and one genus ofcopepod were found. Comparisons were made between the number of fish· parasitized at cage sites and control sites during three periods of time relative to catfish culture in cages. There were no significant differences between cage sites and control sites during any of the three periods.