Summary
Tilapias are endemic to Africa, but interest in their aquacultural potential
led to nearly worldwidedistribution within the past fifty years. Initial enthusiasm
was based on characteristics that madetilapia appropriate for subsistence fish
farming in developing countries. Several species are herbivores, readily reproduce
in small ponds and are highly tolerant of poor water quality. Interest in commercial
production of tilapia was initially dampened by a small harvest size resulting
from excessive reproduction and stunting. Within the past twenty years, however,
commercially viable techniques have been developed to control overcrowding in
ponds, thereby permitting growth to larger sizes. World harvest cultured tilapias
now surpasses 500,000 MT, second only to carps as the most widely farmed freshwater
fish in the world. Production will continue to expand as the market for farmed
tilapia grows in developed countries.
This publication is intended for prospective investors and producers to aid
in the preliminary assessment of the aquacultural potential of tilapia. We presume
that the readers have some background in animal husbandry and are looking for
an overall description of the production characteristics of tilapia. We focused
on production techniques rather than on economic analyses which can only be
done on a site-specific basis. Our intention, however, was to provide sufficient
detail to permit logistic and economic analyses under a given set of conditions.
The contents are based on available literature and on the cumulative experience
of the authors and colleagues at the International Center for Aquaculture and
Aquatic Environments at Auburn University with more than 100 person-years of
experience in the international development of aquaculture.