Tilapia is a globally important aquaculture species that is farmed worldwide. It is known as the "aquatic chicken" due to its hardiness, fast growth, and lack of cultural and religious restrictions on consumption. Global tilapia production has grown rapidly and is predicted to surpass carp as the most important aquaculture species by 2010. Tilapia farming employs many people worldwide and supports economic development. The tilapia industry continues to improve practices around food safety, quality control, and environmental sustainability to meet rising global demand.

1. Tilapia - a global commodity
The ‘aquatic chicken’ comes of
age
Eric Roderick
Executive Director Fishgen Ltd
CEFAS October 2009

2. What is Fishgen?
A Swansea University Spin-out company,
set up in collaboration with the UK
government’s Department for International
Development (DFID) and dedicated to
supplying quality tilapia stocks for
aquaculture worldwide
We have exported to over 40 countries
Identified with Genetically Male Tilapia
(GMT®), a product unique to Fishgen
Continuous R & D programme for
development of new and better fish

3. What are tilapia?
 A tropical freshwater fish species originating in Africa (over 100
species, but Nile tilapia - Oreochromis niloticus most common) and
farmed by the ancient Egyptians over 4000 years ago to feed the
Pharaohs.
 Eggs hatched and fry reared on the International Space Station and
just a few weeks ago another space launch carried tilapia fry into
orbit.
 Well suited to aquaculture
– Hardy, adapts to a wide range of culture systems from
freshwater to highly saline conditions
– Easy to breed and fast growing, replacing over-fished local
species
– Introduced worldwide for aquaculture ranging from traditional
extensive to modern intensive systems
– Known as the “aquatic chicken”

5. Female Tilapia
mouthbrooding eggs. A
typical clutch varies from
500 to 1500 eggs, depending
on the size of the female.
Tilapia eggs
(rich in yolk)

6. Pictures from inside
one of the Stepped
pyramids in Saqqara,
Egypt.
The pyramid was
constructed in the 27th
Century B.C. and the
reliefs depict fishing
for Tilapia using nets
and bottles to store
the catch.

7. Typical tilapia pond harvest in Egypt

8. Tilapia production
Currently second in volume to carps
Prediction: Tilapia will become most
important aquaculture crop in this century
(3 million Mt by 2010)
Widest demand, no religious/cultural
concerns, few environmental concerns
More genetic potential
Greatest variety of production systems

9. Tilapia Culture Systems
Tilapia harvesting in Thailand Ivory Coast fisherman
Intensive raceway Tilapia farm in Brazil
Cage farm in Zimbabwe

10. Genetics in Aquaculture
An embryonic science?
(Adapted from Gjedrem, 1997)

12. Fishgen’s ultimate goal!

13. World Tilapia Production of
Others
2,348,656 mt in 2006
Americas
Africa
Asia

14. Honduras Malaysia
World Tilapia Production of Costa Rica
United States
2,792,498 mt in 2008
Vietnam Others
Ecuador
Cuba
Colombia
Bangladesh
Indonesia China
Brasil
Taiwan
Thailand
Mexico
Egypt
Philippines

15. Tilapia the “Green” farmed fish
 Herbivore / omnivore, low trophic level feeder
 Algae, bacteria, and detritus (bioflocs) are
important food sources
 Prepared feeds are mostly cereals and agriculture
by-products such as rice bran.
 Promoted by aid agencies and NGO’s
 Disease resistant and tolerant of poor water
quality. Anti-biotics and chemicals are not
needed for commercial farming.

16. Global production of tilapia
Aquaculture Fishery
3,500,000
3,000,000
2,500,000
Metric tons
2,000,000
1,500,000
1,000,000
500,000
0
2010(est)
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008

17. According to SOFIA 2008 (State of the World’s Fisheries and
Aquaculture) released by FAO, Aquaculture produces almost
50% of all fish eaten around the world, amounting to 52
million tonnes worth $78.8 billion. This is a massive rise from
just 9% in 1980. The report also shows continuing declines in
yields of capture fisheries, along with a rise of 80% in the
number of fisheries that are fully or over exploited. 43.5
million people are directly employed in capture fisheries and
aquaculture, with 86% of them living in Asia. Tilapia global
sales for 2009 are predicted to be worth $5 billion.

18. Top Ten Seafoods (U.S.)
per capita (lbs)
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Tuna 3.5 Shrimp 3.4 Shrimp 3.7 Shrimp 4.0 Shrimp 4.2 Shrimp 4.1 Shrimp 4.4 Shrimp 4.1 Shrimp 4.1
Shrimp 3.2 Tuna 2.9 Tuna 3.1 Tuna 3.4 Tuna 3.4 Tuna 3.1 Tuna 2.9 Tuna 2.7 Tuna 2.8
Pollock 1.6 Salmon 2.0 Salmon 2.0 Salmon 2.2 Salmon 2.2 Salmon 2.4 Salmon 2.0 Salmon 2.4 Salmon 1.8
Salmon 1.5 Pollock 1.2 Pollock 1.1 Pollock 1.7 Pollock 1.7 Pollock 1.5 Pollock 1.6 Pollock 1.7 Pollock 1.34
Catfish 1.1 Catfish 1.1 Catfish 1.1 Catfish 1.1 Catfish 1.1 Catfish 1.0 Tilapia 1.0 Tilapia 1.14 Tilapia 1.19
Cod 0.8 Cod 0.6 Cod 0.7 Cod 0.6 Tilapia 0.7 Tilapia 0.8 Catfish 0.97 Catfish 0.90 Catfish 0.92
Clams 0.5 Clams 0.5 Crabs 0.6 Crabs 0.6 Cod 0.6 Crabs 0.6 Crabs 0.7 Crabs 0.68 Crabs 0.61
Crabs 0.4 Crabs 0.4 Clams 0.5 Tilapia 0.5 Crabs 0.6 Cod 0.6 Cod 0.5 Cod 0.47 Cod 0.44
Flatfish 0.4 Flatfish 0.4 Tilapia 0.4 Clams 0.5 Clams 0.5 Clams 0.4 Clams 0.4 Clams 0.45 Flatfish 0.43
Scallops 0.3 Tilapia 0.4 Flatfish 0.3 Scallops 0.3 Scallops 0.3 Scallops 0.3 Scallops 0.3 Flatfish 0.32 Clams 0.42
Tilapia 0.3

19. US Consumption of tilapia from
domestic and imported sources
500,000
450,000
400,000
Tilapia (000's of kg of live weight)
350,000
300,000
250,000 Domestic Imports
200,000
150,000
100,000
50,000
0
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008

20. A major new initiative set up in July 2007 is the formation
of the American Coalition for Tilapia (ACT) made up of
producers representing almost 100% of the fresh tilapia
fillets currently sold in the USA. “ The unifying purpose
of the group is to promote the image, benefits and quality
of fresh tilapia fillets produced in the Americas.”
This is a direct result of the FDA report restricting some
farmed fish imports into the USA from Asia. A priority for
ACT is the Carbon Monoxide used in China to enhance
shelf life and fresh appearance of frozen tilapia fillets.

21. Tilapia situation in Latin America
Early in year, fresh sales from
Central and South America increased
Late in year, severe problem with
letters of credit
Importers cannot borrow to buy fish
Slumping exports to the US
Only biggest firms with cash can
continue buying

22. Tilapia situation in Latin America
Decreased fresh sales from Ecuador
and Peru
Increased fresh sales from Brazil,
Nicaragua, Honduras, Colombia,
Costa Rica

23. Fishgen’s partner in Costa Rica, Til-Gen
A new totally biosecure
hatchery supplying broodstock
to Central America.
Individual fry rearing units
allow different strains to be
reared separately.

24. Fishgen’s
partner in
Brazil –
Sta Isabel

25. Tilapia situation in Asia
Huge decrease in frozen sales from
China in early part of year due to
winter kill
Increased frozen sales from Indonesia
and Thailand
By end of year, China equaled 2007
sales volume, but large increase in
value

26. December 18, 2008
 Government of China proposes to ban
use of CO for treatment of tilapia (and
other fish and meat products).
 Final decision to be made in 2009.
 Production costs in China rose 20%
last year. Expect 10%+ increases in
coming years.

27. Tilapia processing
in Hainan, China
Above – Hand
filleting to
produce the
fillets (seen
left)

28. Hapas and concrete tanks used for genetic studies in
Fishgen’s production centre in the Philippines

29. Tilapia (2008), Tesco, UK)


30. Tilapia – the UK market.
Early 80’s - 1 farm, ( very small production on an eel farm in Devon) then in the
late 80’s, a much larger operation in Derby, utilising waste heat from Courtalls
Textile Factory.
Early 90’s - several new high tech indoor recirculation units built specifically to
grow tilapia. Lots of early problems which are now being overcome.
Today 11 tilapia farms in the UK, one UK hatchery, and 5 academic research
facilities, + another 12 small buyers of tilapia fry for backyard operations or
integrated aquaponics units.
Total production for the UK (under optimum conditions and based on the farm
sizes) should be 800 tonnes, but due to some teething troubles, actual production at
the moment is nearer 300 tonnes.
The previous slide gave a price of £8.99 / kilo, in early 2008. Actual price today in
Tesco is £3.00 per fish (around 500g) equating to £6.00 / kilo.
UK farm gate prices range from £2.34 to £4.00 per Kg for Whole Round fish
depending on the volume and purchaser.
Imported Chinese frozen fillets cost £1.11 landed cost!

31. In 2008 all Tesco’s fish were imported from Jamaica which has historically been
the only source of whole tilapia to all the UK supermarkets. Tesco’s tilapia label
today states that the fish are sourced from Indonesia, Ecuador, Honduras,
Zimbabwe and the UK.
In July, Fish Farming International published interviews with the three largest
global tilapia production companies: Regal Springs (60,000 mt in 2008, 71,000
predicted in 2009 with farms in Honduras, Indonesia and Mexico), AquaChile
(22,000 mt in 2008 with farms in Chile, Costa Rica, USA and Panama) and
Tropical Aquaculture Products Inc (10,200 mt for 2008 with farms in Ecuador
Costa Rica, Columbia and Brazil) and they were all increasingly targeting
European markets where prices are higher than their main market in the USA.
Belgium’s Vitafish, the largest recirculation farm in Europe built a few years ago
at a cost of £15 million, with a target production of 4000 tonnes of tilapia, has
just gone into receivership, due to massive disease issues brought about by
importing cheap tilapia fry from Thailand. Importing fry caries significant risks.

32. Fishgen’s
Partner in
Spain -
Valaqua
Fishgen’s USA
Partner – Til-tech

33. Demands on farmers and processors
 Demand for even more food safety, high quality,
“organic” or “green” tilapia products.
- Reduce or eliminate use of methyl-testosterone hormone.
- No anti-biotics or other chemicals
- Reduce environmental impacts
- More integrated, re-use water for farming crops
- Re-use processing waste products
 More value-added tilapia products
 More demand for all forms, especially frozen meals
 Rapidly increasing demand from Europe

34. Developing countries improved quality control:
Required for US, EU, and Japan markets
 Samples checked for
bacterial and
chemical
contamination
 Follow HACCP
procedures, ISO, and
EU guidelines
 Many plants are
using ozone dips to
reduce surface
bacteria

35. Improvements in packaging

36. IQF Fillets
in re-sealable
packages

37. Industry by-products
 Formed fish products
 Fertilizer
 Fish meal
 Leather goods and pharmaceuticals from
skins
 Biodiesel (Honduras farm produces
300,000 gallons annually using fish waste
from the processing plant).

40. Organic Tilapia
There is no globally accepted Organic Certification
for tilapia, and currently only 2 farms worldwide
are producing organic tilapia.
HQ Sustainable Maritime Industries, a big USA
company grows its 40,000 tonnes of tilapia in
Hainan Island, in China and the Chinese
government certify that 5000 tonnes is produced
organically under the “TiLove Ya” brand.
Regal Springs – another US company with tilapia
production in Honduras and Indonesia markets 2%
of its Honduran production as Organic, certified by
Natureland and Biosuisse. Regal Springs gets 100%
premium prices for its organic fish.

41. New product
forms
Smoked tilapia
Sashimi grade
tilapia

42. Tilapia Orange Juice

43. Flowers made from Tilapia scales

44. Leather goods made from
Tilapia skin, produced in
Brazil

45. Global Aquaculture Tilapia Sales
For year 2000 =US $ 1,744,045000
(FAO FishStat 2007)
2005 sales = $ 2,457,312,000
(FAO FishStat 2007)
2010 sales >$ 5,000,000,000

46. Future Trends
 Additional processing in producer countries
 Need to meet stricter food safety, quality,
and environmental criteria
 More demands for food safety, quality
assurance, improved packaging, and
environmental safeguards (with little if any
increase in price)
 Farmers and processors will need to meet
these demands by increasing efficiency, not
price

47. Metric tons (000)
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
3,500
0
500
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009(est)
2010(est)
2011 (est)
Future global tilapia aquaculture

48. Conclusions
 Global tilapia production will exceed
3,000,000 metric tons in 2010.
 Constantly improving production systems
with demands for more sustainability.
 More demands for food safety, quality
assurance, improved packaging, and
environmental safeguards (with little if any
increase in price)
 ISO, HACCP and NGO certifications will
be a fact of life.

49. Our Fishgen tilapia come fully trained!
Thank you