Technical Abstract: Aeration is arguably the single greatest factor responsible for the steady increase in catfish production rates seen in the past 40 years. Prior to emergency aeration, production rarely exceeded 1500 lbs•acre-1•year-1. Now, farmers using 2 to 3-hp/acre of electric paddlewheel aerators may see yields of 6000-12,000 lbs•acre-1•year-1, and production in individual smaller ponds may approach ten tons per acre with aeration rates up to 6-hp/acre. Research has determined that the best “operational range” for managing dissolved oxygen in catfish ponds is 1.5-2.5 mg/L. At lower concentrations production losses due to poor feed consumption are great; at higher concentrations, production stabilizes but aeration costs increase. At higher aeration intensities, automated oxygen monitoring and control systems become economical. Recent farm-scale research on aerator placement is providing new management options for oxygen management using existing equipment. Liquid oxygen (LOX) is now being used while holding catfish in a sock prior to harvest, but broader use of LOX in pond oxygen management awaits further engineering advances. Water usage, on both a per-acre and per-pound basis has dramatically decreased over the years; ponds are rarely drained and most farmers use a “6/3” water management system to conserve even rainfall. Intensification has spared nearly 300,000 acres of bottomland from pond development, providing both an environmental and recreational bonus.