Future of Tilapia Aquaculture in the Americas

Draft Jan 18. 1999

ABSTRACT

Tilapia are a relatively new seafood product in the Americas, having only been introduced in the 1950’s. The aquaculture of tilapia in the Americas began with small scale culture for subsistence farming in the late 60’s and 1970’s. Large scale production and international trade of tilapia products developed in the 1980’s and 1990’s. The rapid increase in production can be attributed to improvements in aquaculture technology, to improvements in the infrastructure in several of the developing countries that are major producers and to larger numbers of trained biologists. Increases in consumption of tilapia can be attributed to more consumer recognition of the product, improved quality, variety of product forms, better marketing and overall increased demand for fish products. In the future we can expect a decrease in the number of species farmed, O. mossambicus and O. aureus will be used mainly for breeding programs, but an increase in strains or breeds of O. niloticus and Red Hybrids. The volume of tilapia produced is likely to double in the next 10 years.

Another trend that is likely to continue is the additional processing and value-adding that takes place in the country of origin. Technology, equipment and expertise are rapidly spreading from the US, Europe

and Israel to the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.

A. Introduction

Tilapias were first introduced into the Americas in the 1950’s and 1960’s. These early introductions were conducted by public aquaria for display purposes and by government agencies who were interested in the potential of the fish for use in food production and as biological controls for aquatic weeds and insects. The fish were also introduced into the Hawaiian Islands as a potential baitfish for the tuna industry. Since that time several species of tilapia have been brought to the Americas and they are now present either in wild populations or in culture settings in every nation in the Western Hemisphere.

Tilapia aquaculture has grown from the early efforts which concentrated on supplying the fish to irrigation districts and natural resource agencies for weed control to development of domesticated strains that are used almost exclusively for production of fish for direct human consumption. Tilapia have fallen out of favor as biological control for weeds in North America because of the greater control that can be achieved with the triploid grass carp.

Global tilapia production

The total world landings for tilapia from capture and culture increased from 515,000 mt in 1984 to 1.16 million mt in 1995 ( FAO 1997). Most of the increase in production has been supplied by aquaculture. Between 1984 and 1995, the contribution of cultured tilapia to total tilapia landing increased from 38% or 198,000 mt to 57% or 659,000 mt.

Four cichlid species or species groups (O. niloticus, unidentified tilapias, Mozambique tilapia and blue tilapia) dominated production between 1984 and 1995; in 1995, these accounted for 99.5% of cichlid production. Global production was greatly influenced by rapid expansion of Nile and Mozambique tilapia culture in China, the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia and Egypt. Nile tilapia dominated global tilapia culture and its share of total tilapia production increased dramatically from 33% or 66,000 mt in 1984 to 72% or 474,000 mt in 1995 (Figure 1.1.2.14). In China, the leading producer, production increased from 18,000t in 1984 to 315,000t in 1995. This resulted in China accounting for 48% of total global tilapia culture. The tonnage of incompletely identified tilapia species (tilapia nei) has not changed significantly, but the concurrent expansion of Nile tilapia has resulted in their global decline from 46% or 92,000 mt in 1984 to 18% or 118,000 mt in 1995 (Figure 1.1.2.14). Much of the production in this group in 1995 was attributable to Taiwan Province of China (39%), Philippines (16%), Mexico (13%), and USA (5.8%) where tilapia hybrids of species such as O. niloticus, O. aureus, O. mossambicus, O. hornorum and varieties known as red tilapia, cherry snapper, etc., are cultured.

In common with other major cultured groups, the expansion of tilapia culture between 1984 and 1995 has not been uniform ( Figure 1.1.2.15). For all tilapias, the fastest expansion was recorded during 1984-1990; thereafter, the average rate of expansion decreased. For the Nile tilapia, the expansion of production decreased from an APR of 22.6 during 1984-1990 to 9.6 in 1994-1995. Similarly, for the same periods the production of the Mozambique tilapia decreased from an APR of 21.8 to 8.9. The production of the blue tilapia (O. aureus), which was mainly reported by Cuba, has declined sharply.

B. One of the big four Catfish, Salmon, Trout, Tilapia

C. Country by country

Canada is one of the most interesting locations for tilapia production and in the late 1990’s has become a focus of new production and marketing. Toronto is widely recognized to be the single biggest market for live tilapia in North America. The market for live tilapia was over 500,000 kg in 1998. Several of the ethnic communities in Toronto, especially the Chinese, constitute an eager market for producers in the eastern US and Canada. A well developed distribution system with live sales that appeal to several market segments has been organized. Most of the supply of live tilapia comes from closed recirculating systems in the US, but several producers in Canada have begun to contribute significant amounts in to the market. The Canadian growers are utilizing their expertise in greenhouse operations to operate closed recirculating systems that are producing fish that can compete with US product. Several of the producers have worked with the Tilapia culture system developed by the research team at Cornell University in New York, while others have pioneered their own systems. The five major farms are in Ontario province with a sixth in Calgary. Several of the farms in Ontario are in the process of expanding and production is expected to double to 200 MT within the next two years. The intent is to provide a ready supply to the Toronto market. The production from the existing farms has already driven down the prices paid to US producers as they must compete with farms with in a short drive of the Toronto markets. The Alberta provincial government has recently organized a division of aquaculture and is encouraging fish farming in Calgary and the rest of the province.

Canada is also an important importer of fresh and frozen tilapia products from producers in Jamaica and Costa Rica. Fillet products are reported to be common in markets and restaurants. With continued shortages of domestically caught fish, tilapia is likely to further increase its market share in Canada.

Species / # of Farms / Production
(MT) / Consumption
(MT) / New investment
Canada / O. niloticus / 6 / 100 / 500+ / 2 farms

- species cultured;

- production volumes (ball-park accurate);

- Number of farms (approximate);

- total farm acreage (approximate);

- is new investment occurring?

US

Jamaica See World Aqua article

Jamaica reported exports of fresh fillets to US of 147,756 kg $ 993,441

frozen 67,592 kg $ 253,434

whole 0 kg $ 0

Species / # of Farms / Production
(MT) / Consumption
(MT) / New investment
Jamaica

Mexico

Species / # of Farms / Production
(MT) / Consumption
(MT) / New investment
Mexico

Honduras

One of the major tilapia producers in Honduras is Aqua Corporacion de Honduras near San Pedro Sula. The farm was designed by Aquaculture Production Technology of Israel. The farm uses an intensive pond system rearing all male hybrid populations. The farm currently produces 1800 MT per year. Hatchery, growout and processing are vertically integrated in the operation. The fish are exported as fresh product and marketed using the “Mountain Stream” brandname.

(Teichert-Coddington and Green 1997)

Species / # of Farms / Production
(MT) / Consumption
(MT) / New investment
Honduras / N/A

COLOMBIA

production in Metric tons

1994 -- 9,200

1995 -- 12,000

1996 -- 13,600

1997 -- 15,000

Export values in US $

1994 -- $5,000,000

1995 -- $6,600,000

1996 -- $4,500,000

1997 -- $8,500,000

The majority of tilapia produced have been red tilapia hybrids. In recent years O. niloticus have become more common. In the early 90's most of the fish were exported as frozen fillets to the US. In the mid 90's a domestic market grew that took much of the fish as fresh (whole and fillet) and reduced export levels. Most of the production is from intensive or semi-intensive ponds.

Additional production is coming on line.

I just checked US customs tilapia import figures. Colombia has zero exports to the US in the period of Jan. through Aug. of 1998.

Species / # of Farms / Production
(MT) / Consumption
(MT) / New investment
Colombia / Red hybrids / 15,000 / Yes

Venezuela

Species / # of Farms / Production
(MT) / Consumption
(MT) / New investment
Venezuela / Red hybrids / 58 / 1,700 / Yes

Most production was in the states of Tachira, Barinas, and around Lago de Maracibo. In 1997 there were 133 hectares in production. Most of this production is in semi-intensive pond production of red tilapia. Most of this production increase has occurred since 1992.

Peru

Argentina

The northern part of Argentina is an area of tropical and subtropical climate that supports tilapia production. The center of the production is in the province of Formosa. In the 1996-1997 season production was estimated to be 10 MT (Luchini 1998; Wicki and Gromenida 1997). The primary species farmed in O. niloticus. The primary market for the fish is in the city of Clorinda where it is sold either as whole fish or as fillets. In 1997, whole fish sold for US$ 1.5/kg and fillets for $6.0/kg.

Species / # of Farms / Production
(MT) / Consumption
(MT) / New investment
Argentina / O. niloticus / N/A / 10 / N/A

Cuba

Species / # of Farms / Production
(MT) / Consumption
(MT) / New investment
Cuba / O. niloticus / 35,000 / 35,000

Trinadad and Tobago

Has 562 small scale (subsistence) farmers operating 706 ponds, with a total pond area of 71.6 hectares. Average pond size is 0.07ha. Approximately 16 tons of Tilapia were in 1995, a little over 18 tons in

1996 and 1997; and for 1998 the estimate is 19 tons. Tilapia is presently sold at TT$13 per Kg. (US$1.00 = TT$6.30). The major portion of the tilapia produced is consumed locally, with only a small percentage now being exported to North America and Europe.

Costa Rica

Panama

Nicaragua

Guatamala

Belize

El Salvador look for FUSADES article in World Aqua

D. Polyculture with Macrobrachium and Red Claw

E. Intensive

F. Semi-intensive

G. Extensive

H. Rotation with shrimp

I. Markets

Literature Cited

AQUACULTURE OUTLOOK October 1998, LDP-AQS-8, Economic Research Service, U.S.

Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC.

FAO Inland Water Resources and Aquaculture Service, Fishery Resources Division Review of the state of world aquaculture. FAO Fisheries Circular. No. 886, Rev.1. Rome, FAO. 1997. 163 p.

Luchini, L. 1998. Actualidad de la acuicultura en Argentina. Dirección de Acuicultura. Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Teichert-Coddington, D. R., and B.W. Green 1997. Experimental and commercial culture of tilapia in Honduras. Pp. 142-162 in B. A. Costa-Pierce and J.E. Rakocy, eds. Tilapia Culture in the Americas, Vol. 1. World Aquaculture Society, Baton Rouge, LA. USA.

Wicki G.A. and N. Gromenida 1997. Estudio de desarrollo y produccion de Tilapia. Dirección de Acuicultura. Buenos Aires, Argentina.