1. Markets and Public Perceptions of Tilapia in the United States Dr. Aaron McNevin Aquaculture Specialist World Wildlife Fund-US

2. Status of tilapia Markets in US Tilapia is steadily growing in the United States There is a growing demand for fresh tilapia fillets Competition from other white fish does not appear to be a concern in the fresh market Competition in the frozen market will become an issue Tilapia is growing as a family in home dining meal There are few negative impacts that consumers associate with tilapia so there does not appear to be a large push for tilapia produced by one culture system

3. US Tilapia Fresh/Chilled Fillet Imports 2005 (Total 22,771 mt)

4. US Tilapia Frozen Fillet Imports 2005 (Total 55,680 mt)

5. US Tilapia Frozen Other Imports 2005 (Total 56,665 mt)

6. CountryYear Fresh/Chilled Fillets Frozen Fillets Frozen Whole/Other BRAZIL 2005962.61.78.3 2004323.100 2003208.326.90 CHINA 2005 44190.830936.4 2004 28076.131873.8 2003 15878.628782.9 COLOMBIA 2005172.900 2004000.5 2003003 COSTA RICA 20053733.8105.69.3 20044090.42.613.6 20033996.12.51.6 ECUADOR 200510600.5266.665.1 200410163.8172.175.8 20039396.9186.4143.3 EL SALVADOR 2005306.7 2004257.8 2003188.6 HONDURAS 20056571.8 20044041.7 20032851.1 CountryYear Fresh/Chilled Fillets Frozen Fillets Frozen Whole/Other INDONESIA 2005 6428.2200.2 2004 4250.42.7 2003 3582.75.4 JAMAICA 200567.30 20048.64.2 2003018.1 KOREA 2005 39.50.5 2004 18.337.7 2003 1.20 NICARAGUA 200568.52.8 200467.510.8 20032.98.4 PANAMA 200583.7187.2450.1 200492.894.3101.7 200395.641.5103.8 TAIWAN 200503081.124203.9 200415.92700.325010.4 2003281.52469.719663.6 VIETNAM 200541.8359.5523.9 2004018.124.9 20031773.241.4 Note: Import quantities are in metric tons (mt)

7. Competition??? CountryYear Pang. FR/CHPang. FILL,FZPang. FR/CHPang. FZCC FILL, FZCCFIL,FR/CHCC,FILL,FZ BRAZIL 2005 0 84.8 2004 36.734.2 2003 8.60 CAMBODIA 2005430.3232.7 00 262.5 20040118.6039.839.9 200300000 CHINA 20050422.4 157.6017.71094.2 20040169.219.1347.10245.4 2003000326.100 HONG KONG 2005 20 2004 0 2003 0 INDONESIA 2005026.3 200400 200300 MALAYSIA 2005 193.2 0 2004 00 2003 07.4 Pang = basa/tra CC = channel catfish

8. CountryYearPang. FR/CHPang. FILL,FZPang. FR/CHPang. FZCC FILL, FZCCFIL,FR/CHCC,FILL,FZ TAIWAN 2005 293.4 2004 0 2003 0 THAILAND 2005 1475 18.40 2004 002.5 2003 0021.2 VIETNAM 20050.58017.90.5723.70 200402800.1028.5181.3 200300001929.4 Competition??? Pang = basa/tra CC = channel catfish

9. Seafood Cards Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch Blue Ocean Institute Environmental Defense National Aquarium

10. Global Market Trends Seafood exports generate twice as many $ for LDCs as coffee, tea, rubber, bananas, rice, meat combined—35% from aquaculture Producers pitted against producers; race to the bottom Declining prices force focus on efficiency, input uses, reduced costs, market access, and market share Supply chain management and traceability pass liability back to producers Proliferation of corporate purchasing standards (e.g. Eurepgap) to address health and safety and product quality Some shrimp tested 6 times before reaching the consumer

11. Production Trends More efficient, reduction of impacts, but wide variation in performance levels—better and worse producers Fish oil most limiting factor followed by fishmeal Sustainability of reduction fisheries is key Old technologies are spreading to new species Net pen technology is being used for cold and warm water species around the world from cod to cobia “Ranching” is increasing—creating issues for tuna around take of juveniles from wild and feed Offshore aquaculture a reality in NZ and US (HI, NH, PR) Aquaculture has impacts, meaningful standards are essential

12. Why WWF and Aquaculture? Fastest growing food production system globally—due to both supply (over fishing) and demand issues Can either exacerbate or reduce pressure on wild fisheries Increasing number of new species produced by aquaculture (cod, hake, halibut, cobiha, tuna) New industry—significant potential for innovation FAO/IFPRI forecast global increase in seafood consumption of 1.5 kg/person—all from aquaculture In US, a 1.5-2 billion kg increase in seafood consumption by 2020, all from aquaculture

13. Aquaculture vs. Capture Fisheries

14. Aquaculture vs. Capture Tilapia MolluscsSeaweed CatfishTrout Salmon

15. Why Aquaculture Certification? Governments will only do so much, may discourage the worst but won’t encourage better or best Markets are driving production—can be part of solution Voluntary programs are key to sustainability, innovation and future BMPs Health and safety issues with aquaculture products Sustainability of some forms of production is a key issue and need to be addressed beyond compliance Certification can result in fewer, reduced impacts Certification can provide pond to plate traceability

16. Elements of a Good Certification System Address multiple species with market relevance Transparent and created in a multi-stakeholder process Targets the key impacts (usually only 6-10)—landscape and farm level Measurably reduces key impacts against a baseline Addresses both social and environmental impacts Applies to different kinds of producers and what’s possible Metric-based standards, by contrast to prescriptive standards, encourage innovation Certified by independent third-parties Addresses chain of custody/traceability

17. Thank You