1. Tilapia Aquaculture in the 21st Century
Kevin Fitzsimmons, Ph.D. University of Arizona Tucson, Arizona, USA
&
Vice President, American Tilapia Association
President Elect, US. Chapter of World Aquaculture Soc.

2. Introduction
Tilapia are one of the most important domesticated fish today.
Tilapia will be the single most important aquaculture product in the 21st Century

3. Current Status Production widely distributed around the world.
Grows well in most production systems.
Established market demand.
Popular in several product forms.

4. Production widely distributed around the world.
FAO reports production in 85 countries.
East Asia, Indonesia, Latin America, Caribbean, Middle East, and Africa
Germany, Belgium, Spain, Canada, Korea, Japan, most states in US

5. Production widely distributed around the world.
Wild catch being replaced by farm raised
Used in many cuisine, hundreds of recipes
Tilapia, boulti, pla nil, St. Peters fish

6. Grows well in most production systems
Ponds
Cages
Raceways, round tanks, recirculating systems
Ranching (lake releases)
Freshwater, Brackish water, Estuarine, and Marine

7. Grows well in most production systems
Polyculture with shrimp, catfish, carp
Herbivorous and /or omnivorous
Good growth in fertilized ponds
Many byproducts can be used in prepared feeds

8. Grows well in most production systems
Simple hatchery technology
Disease resistant
Grow well at high densities
Several color variants available
More “domesticated” than most aquaculture crops

9. Established market demand
Accepted in many national dishes
Popular in many forms
Live, Whole, fillets, fresh and frozen, smoked, surimi

10. Problem areas Low fillet recovery rate Slow growing females
Off-flavors

11. Advances and Solutions: Low fillet recovery rate
Selective breeding programs
Transgenics - Growth hormones
Growth enhancers - Bovine Somatotropins
Better processing equipment

12. Advances and Solutions: Slow growing females
Methyltestosterone
Genetically male tilapia
All male hybrids
High density culture
O. niloticus with larger females

13. Advances and Solutions: Off-flavors
Depuration systems
Control of blue-green algae
Production in system with limited access to benthic algae

14. Why tilapia will surpass other species in importance.
Production constraints being reduced, and costs decreasing
Markets are still expanding
Market prices holding
More training & experience of growers, processors and marketers

15. Why tilapia will surpass other species in importance.
Ecologically sustainable
Popular with environmentalists
Consumption not restricted by religious observances
Mild flavor preferred by many consumers

16. Why tilapia will surpass other species in importance.
Carp: markets are limited
Salmonids and shrimps need high levels of fish meal, limited ingredients for diets
Most other species need higher water quality, competition for sites

17. Current Trends Increase in demand for all forms of tilapia
Demand increase will be greatest for fresh fillets
Prices have been constant for several years and are likely to remain stable

18. Current Trends
US and EU growers will concentrate on live sales and highly processed forms
Southeast Asia and Latin America will be primary US suppliers
Africa, Latin America and Caribbean will supply EU

19. Tilapia in the Americas

20. Tilapia imports to US (1992-2000)

21. Value of Tilapia imports (1992-2000)

22. US. Tilapia imports

23. Source of US Tilapia supply 2000 (by volume)

24. Tilapia aquaculture in Colombia

25. International markets
China has taken a large % of Taiwan share
China has growing domestic demand
Honduras has rapid expansion
Colombia, Cuba, Brazil and Mexico are supplying strong domestic markets
Prices on international markets will not increase from present levels.

26. International markets
Ecuador has passed Costa Rica as supplier of fillets to US
Ecuador integrating with shrimp production
Colombia, Thailand and Mexico were exporters to US, but exports levels decreased while production increased
Philippines is big producer, some exports to Japan

27. Tilapia aquaculture in Ecuador

28. International market changes
Increasing domestic consumption
Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico
Philippines & China more exports
EU is developing demand
Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Kenya, other countries of Africa will supply EU

29. Typical prices for Tilapia products sold in the U.S. (August 2000.)

30. Ultimate marketing goals
Increase domestic demand
Provide processing near production
Provide variety to local markets
Maintain environmental awareness
Market tilapia as ecologically efficient and sustainable

31. Ultimate marketing goals
Most seafood restaurants
Most grocery stores
Competing with catfish, trout, salmon, sole, flounder and other marine species
Compete with chicken, beef, pork