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.
(vasep.com.vn) The global tilapia market is becoming increasingly segmented, not only among producing countries but also by product type and destination market. Supply is divided into groups with distinct competitive advantages: large volumes of whole fish and frozen fillets from Asia, high-value fresh fillets from Latin America, and substantial domestic consumption in several major producing countries.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports to the UK grew in the first eight months of 2026, despite signs of slowing import demand in the market. However, sharp fluctuations in orders, competition from major suppliers, and new traceability requirements are creating challenges for Vietnamese exporters.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam is stepping up efforts to combat illegal fishing, protect marine ecosystems, expand digital monitoring, and develop science-based management to ensure the sea can support communities and the economy for generations to come.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The EU remains a critical market for Vietnamese shrimp; however, purchasing demand and import patterns are undergoing notable changes. According to Vietnam Customs data, as of September 15, 2026, Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the EU reached nearly $374 million, down 5% year-over-year and accounting for 10.7% of the country’s total shrimp export value. Meanwhile, the EU’s stotal shrimp imports through July 2026 contracted by 7% in volume, exhibiting divergent trends across Southern Europe, Northwestern Europe and Eastern Europe. These dynamics necessitate that Vietnamese enterprises closely monitor individualized market demand, rather than approaching the EU as a monolithic consumer block.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of surimi and fish cakes remained relatively stable year-over-year compared to 2025. Following a contraction in the initial months, export performance demonstrated improvement from June onward, peaking in August. However, the recovery has been uneven, characterized by divergent trends across major markets: robust growth was recorded in China, Japan, Malaysia, the United States, and Taiwan, whereas export volumes to South Korea, Indonesia, and select European markets contracted.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Pangasius remains one of Dong Thap’s key aquaculture species, with the province focusing on developing an integrated value chain covering seed production, commercial farming, deep processing and by-product utilization. The province is promoting high-tech, circular pangasius farming models featuring reduced water exchange and enhanced biosecurity, aiming to improve production efficiency and strengthen control over raw material quality.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports in September 2026 are estimated at US$1.135 billion, up 11.9% year-on-year, bringing total exports in the first nine months of the year to US$9.103 billion, up 11.4%. Behind this double-digit growth, however, increasingly divergent market trends are emerging: China–Hong Kong and ASEAN posted strong growth, while the U.S., EU and Japan all recorded declines in September.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Brazil became the largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, with export value reaching US$44 million, up 22,142% year-on-year and accounting for 49% of Vietnam’s total tilapia exports. In August alone, exports to Brazil reached US$4 million. However, behind this remarkable growth is a market that is imposing increasingly stringent requirements on imported supplies.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports sustained their upward trajectory in August 2026, though the pace remained modest at just 2%. The month saw divergent trends across key markets: the US maintained its leading position, Japan and Canada improved, Russia surged and the EU continued to experience a steep downturn. These developments suggest that exporters are entering the final months of the year amid a market environment marked by greater uncertainty.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Congalsa has acquired the entire charter capital of Lenger Seafood Vietnam, giving it full ownership of the business and its Nam Dinh processing facility.
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