The aquaculture industry is valued at $1.2 billion, with catfish production in the USA alone generating over $366 million as of 2016

In the southeastern united states, the channel catfish sector stands out as the most significant, contributing over $400 million annually to the economy. However, fish outbreaks have led to substantial financial losses for the US aquaculture industry, amounting to over $12 million due to mortality rates and increased production costs associated with feeding and antimicrobial treatments. This ongoing issue continues to disrupt the industry. Consequently, IT is essential to assess and maintain water quality to minimize contamination by disease-causing pathogens. Health authorities, fish farmers, and extension officials must be aware of the pathogens present in the area, their levels of resistance, and, for veterinarians and health officials, understanding the circulating antibiotic resistance genes will aid in effective antibiotic stewardship. This research work will collect water samples from natural waters in the blackbelt counties. Fifty samples will be collected and sequenced each month. The target is 600 samples during the four seasons of the year. Samples will be transported to the laboratory in ICE boxes. The research starts with the DNA extraction from each SAM PLE after determining and recording the collection site. The molecular characterization includes metagenomic analysis using the next-generation sequencer. Thank you, nifa/EGP, for the acquisition of the miseq sequencer for tuskegee university. Keywords: channel catfish, antibiotic resistance genes, DNA extraction, metagenomic analysis