RECENT MEDIA ABOUT IMPERIAL CATFISH FARM:
Fish Farmer Magazine – Fat cats
Voice of America Video – Farm-Raised Fish Must Double to Meet Growing Global Demand
California Bountiful Feature Article – A Fish Story
The Imperial Catfish Farm is the largest of its kind in California. It sets on approximately 600 acres
and is located in the Imperial Valley about 30 miles north of the Mexican border.
More specifically, it’s situated in the heart of the MESQUITE LAKE SPECIFIC PLAN. Imperial County is one of the major agricultural producing areas for California and the Nation, and Mesquite Lake Specific Plan is the master planned area for all current and future industrial development. Additionally the area is a hotbed for geothermal exploration and development, with many new projects in operation, in planning, or under construction. This gives the land great future upside from both an industrial and geothermal potential. Currently land around the farm is being offered through brokers and advertised on LoopNet in the $20,000 to $60,000 per acre price ranges, depending upon the size and location of the properties for sale.
Imperial Catfish Farm supplies live channel and blue catfish to the Asian food markets throughout Southern California and to many live fish brokers who also supply food markets, restaurants and seafood brokers. Imperial Catfish is the only farm in California that has a large supply of blue catfish, which are highly sought after, giving the Farm a major marketing advantage. ABOUT BLUE CATFISH. The Farm also supplies and delivers live catfish to most of the recreational fishing lakes throughout Southern California. Live catfish sales are split approximately 50% to the Asian food markets and 50% to the recreational fishing lakes.
The State of California has restrictions on the importation of live catfish across the border due to disease issues from other states. As such, the catfish sold in the live market and stocked in California, are grown in California.
The Farm is a successful and profitable operation that has been in business for over 30 years. Over the last 5 years, much investment has been made in new equipment, expansion and land acquisition to keep up with the ever growing demand for locally grown, live catfish. There is much more demand for high quality fish than there is supply in California. This trend will continue and become even greater, as ocean fish stocks are being rapidly depleted and aquaculture is relied upon for more sustainable sources of fish. (See the Voice of America video link) Imperial Catfish employs the best farm managers, with the most experience in the business to manage the inventory and keep the fish safe and healthy. One of the Farm’s major accomplishments is that the farm never uses any chemicals, antibiotics or other treatments on the fish or the water. By respecting nature and not overcrowding, or over feeding the fish and concentrating on water quality and clean ponds, the Farm produces some the healthiest and cleanest catfish in the world,
and their customers appreciate this fact. Additionally, each earthen catfish pond is individually filled and individually drained, keeping the ponds separated for the highest bio-security.
The Farm also spawns all catfish
from their own highly prized disease resistant and fast growing brood stock. They never import or allow foreign fish to come onto the farm and the fry and fingerlings they produce, are highly sought after by other aquaculturists.
The water is supplied at low cost agricultural rates and comes from the Colorado River System. This is advantageous for several reasons. First, the cost is generally lower than pumping and paying the high recharge fees that other local water districts charge. Secondly, the water is from a natural source, and as such, the catfish are spawned and grow up building natural immunities to common diseases that fish farms supplied by ground water wells do not usually get. Therefore, fish mortality rates on the Farm are low. The Farm is a good steward of the resource and practices best management practices for conservation and has not had water supply issues. Moreover, another advantage is that and the water district provides, in its water code, that special users like fish farms, dairies and feed lots, will be provided an annual supply that equals previous year demands and makes accommodations for future expansion plans.
The Farm ponds are uniquely situated on the of an ancient lake called Mesquite Lake. This provides several important benefits. First, the clay soils prevent much of the water from percolating into the ground, as such there are no need for pond liners which are costly and generally ineffective. 
And secondly, the clay soil provided a very fine particulate which is suspended in the pond water and acts as a sunscreen for the catfish
. This sunscreen and the rich clay soils the ponds are constructed of, help produce the highly prized light color or “Silver Catfish” which is the most sought after color by the Asian consumer. Catfish that are dark or black in color, the fish raised in crowded concrete circular tanks or raceways, are much less desirable and are often associated with catfish that have an “off flavor” taste and are often avoided, or sell for much less money in the Asian food markets.
Imperial Catfish takes pride in selling the very best and highest quality catfish on the market and does not cut corners on quality. Their catfish are expertly fed a scientifically balanced and healthy nutritional diet that promotes healthy growth and produces a delicious taste that is never off-flavor. Moreover, the catfish also reap the nutritional benefits of being able to eat the natural food sources from the source water, just as nature intended.
The Farm has a huge inventory with millions of catfish of all sizes and sells live catfish year round to the Asian food markets and to the recreational fishing lakes during the summer season. Moreover it has all the necessary heavy equipment, machinery, mechanic shop and staff necessary to maintain operations. (See “Farm Photos”) It is truly a turnkey operation and is lacking nothing. Additionally, the Farm has 80+ acres of land to build an additional six, 10 acre ponds to increase fish production. Plus, the sale of clay soils to landfills or to prevent water percolation in ponds could provide additional revenues.
This offering also includes two homes. The main farm home is a gorgeous 4,500+- square foot newly constructed home overlooking the entire operation, with four big bedrooms, three baths along with a separate guest home
and a total of 6 garages.
Additionally, there is a separate (also newer) farm manager home.
This business opportunity along with the associated real property, could make a great EB-5 program investment for a family or group of investors familiar or interested in aquaculture and prime real estate with huge upside potential in the United States. For a family of Asian culture, the business offers huge potential selling live catfish to a culture they will be very familiar with, and will provide many different jobs on the farm providing a greater profit potential. The property is also located in an Enterprise Zone which might offer additional investor benefits.
The Seller is available for further discussions and is willing to consider all “fair” offers. Financials are also available upon receipt of an acceptable offer. Additionally, the Seller will pay a brokerage commission. (To be negotiated)
The Farm is not actively being offered for sale. However, SERIOUS enquiries are welcome.
The Owners may wish to retire sometime in the future and will set up the Farm, and its Management, to easily transition to a new owner.
PLEASE DO NOT DISTURB OR CONTACT ANY OF THE EMPLOYEES AT THE FISH FARM.
For more information, please call my toll free number, or use the “Contact Page”.
Thank you,
Craig Elliott, Esq. (888) 871-3080
RECENT MEDIA ABOUT IMPERIAL CATFISH FARM:
Fish Farmer Magazine – Fat cats
Voice of America Video – Farm-Raised Fish Must Double to Meet Growing Global Demand
California Bountiful Feature Article – A Fish Story