They also expressed their view that appropriation of contemporary tilapia seed varieties could increase the production further.
Production of tilapia has increased to 0.138 million tonnes in 2012 from 0.004 million tonnes in 2002.
The imported fish variety now covers 4.45 per cent of the total 3.1 million tonnes of fish production in the country, according to the Department of Fisheries.
While talking to FE, fish experts predicted that the production could be increased to 0.150 million tonnes in the next two years by using contemporary tilapia seeds.
Dr Gulam Hussain, former Director General, Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI) said appropriation of modern aquaculture in 90s helped increase the production.
"It could increase to 0.15 million tonnes by the end of 2015 if we can use contemporary seeds", he pointed out.
Dr Hussain said Bangladesh is one of the top freshwater aquaculture producers in the world, but currently facing problems over its tilapia seed quality.
He informed that the country has over 400 tilapia seed production hatcheries which produce 3.5-4.0 billions of monosex or mixed-sex seeds every year.
Dr Hussain pointed out that gross anomalies have been observed recently in respect to brood fish management and stock replacement due to the establishment of a huge number of tilapia hatcheries in the country.
"As a result, limited numbers and repeated use of brood fish are leading to the problems associated with stock deterioration and inbreeding," he said.
An official at the state-run 'Raipur Fish Hatchery and Training Centre' in Lakshipur district told the FE that many farmers reported that they are not getting the expected size of tilapia fish due to the use of inferior quality tilapia fry from many hatcheries.
However, WorldFish, an international, nonprofit research organisation engaged in food security, has taken initiatives to increase production of higher quality tilapia fry (Seed) in Bangladesh.
In order to solve the problem and help aquaculture in the country, a new Worldfish project has been taken to provide farmers with better quality tilapia fry.
Dr Hussain, also a fish genetic specialist for WorldFish said in regard to these problems, the genetic deterioration of brood stock and poor hatchery management have been considered as the greatest constraint for quality fry production.
In order to combat the problems with tilapia fry quality, WorldFish's Bangladesh and South Asia part have recently established five 'Tilapia Breeding Nucleuses (TBN) in the public and private sector hatcheries in greater Noakhali, Barisal, Jessore and Mymensingh regions.
"The project has been initiated for the production and dissemination of improved germplasm of tilapia," Hussain said.
He also informed that among these five TBNs, two have been recently established in Jessore region under the USAID funded 'Feed the Future Aquaculture' project.
It is roughly estimated that during the breeding season of 2013, the five TBNs of WorldFish will be able to produce over three million improved germplasm of tilapia, which can be distributed and sold to 80 tilapia hatcheries in the southern districts of Bangladesh.
According to the Bangladesh Fish Research Institute (BFRI), the country has now 6,000 commercial farms that produce over 0.13 million tonnes of tilapia fish.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached nearly USD 1.02 billion in July 2026, up 4.8% compared with the same month in 2025. In the first seven months of the year, export turnover totaled nearly USD 6.78 billion, an increase of 11.5% year on year. Surpassing the USD 1 billion mark in July further reinforces expectations that Vietnam’s seafood exports could exceed USD 12 billion for the full year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Market fluctuations, rising production costs, and increasingly stringent requirements from export markets are placing growing pressure on the shrimp industry. In response, Vinh Long Province is promoting high-tech shrimp farming integrated with production–consumption value chains to improve efficiency, reduce risks, and enhance the industry's value.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's tilapia exports to Japan posted strong growth in the first half of 2026, while a promising new trend has emerged in the value-added product segment. Notably, Vietnamese tilapia fillets have been exported to Japan for use in sushi and sashimi, creating new opportunities to enhance the value of the industry in one of the world's most demanding seafood markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a relatively sluggish first quarter, Vietnam's exports of fish cakes and surimi showed a clearer recovery in the second quarter, particularly in June. Export value in the first six months of 2026 reached USD 148 million, down 2% year on year. However, the newly imposed 12.5% additional U.S. tariff on Vietnamese goods, intensifying competition in Northeast Asia, and increasingly stringent traceability requirements in the EU are making the outlook for the second half of the year more uncertain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In June 2026, Vietnam's shrimp exports reached nearly USD 458 million, up 24% year-on-year. In the first six months of 2026, export value totaled USD 2.35 billion, an increase of 14.2% compared with the same period last year. Growth was driven mainly by the Chinese market and the strong performance of lobster exports, while shrimp exports continued to face pressure from U.S. tariffs and rising logistics costs.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As part of Vietfish 2026, the Hosted Buyer Program is designed as a specialized B2B matchmaking initiative for selected international buyers, providing opportunities to meet directly with Vietnamese seafood exporters, gain the latest market insights, and experience Vietnam's seafood supply chain firsthand.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) A project titled "Sustainable Shrimp Industry Governance" has been launched in Ca Mau Province with the aim of supporting the transition of the province's shrimp industry toward higher quality, lower emissions, stronger governance capacity, improved supply chain traceability, and the development of a sustainable shrimp brand that meets the increasingly stringent requirements of export markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Khanh Hoa Provincial Agricultural Extension Center, in collaboration with the Northern Center for Marine Aquaculture Research and the Van Hung Public Service Center, recently organized a training course on disease-free golden pompano seed production. The program is part of a National Agricultural Extension Project aimed at developing industrial-scale seed production models to support sustainable marine aquaculture.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports have shown encouraging signs of recovery in 2026. In the first four months of the year, total export turnover reached USD 720 million, up 17% compared to the same period last year. This result reflects improving demand across many markets, as well as the efforts of Vietnamese pangasius enterprises to maintain production, secure orders, and adapt to changing market conditions.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The application of high technology in shrimp farming is delivering positive results in the coastal areas of Vinh Long Province, contributing to improved production efficiency and creating significant potential for further industry expansion. However, to fully capitalize on this potential, the province is focusing on aquaculture zoning, infrastructure investment, and promoting modern, sustainable production.
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