Research Institute for Aquaculture

Strong prices are driving Chinese tilapia farmers to harvest their fish early, causing a short supply of the larger sizes and a higher proportion of 300-500 gram fish, said industry players. Farmers are harvesting their fish as soon as possible, in part as they fear a drop in price ahead, said Landy Chow, the China representative for the exporter Siam Canadian Group.

R.H. Ward’s (Welton) tilapia farm, The Fish Company, in the United Kingdom is Europe’s first tilapia farm to attain Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certification, the Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA) announced at Seafood Expo Global in Brussels, Belgium, on 6 May. It’s also the United Kingdom’s first aquaculture farm to achieve the distinction.

Worldwide tilapia production exceeded more than 4.2 million metric tons in 2012, a 6 percent increase from 2011, but experts say by 2014 it will exceed 4.5 million as demand continues to grow.

Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certified responsibly farmed tilapia was in the spotlight during a visit to tilapia farm, Trapia Malaysia, last week.

Raw material prices for tilapia out of China have dropped faster than some expected. Prices this week for 500-800 gram live tilapia have fallen to RMB 9.80 per kilo, said Landy Chow of Siam Canadian China.

(vasep.com.vn) Dong Thap province's Agriculture Extension Centre is introducing the farming model of red tilapia under GlobalGap standard for 20 households who own over 50 farming cages.

(vasep.com.vn) Dong Thap province's Agriculture Extension Centre is introducing the farming model of red tilapia under GlobalGap standard for 20 households who own over 50 farming cages.

Jeanine Stewart of Undercurrent News reports that Ecuador producers are scrambling to grow more shrimp, with some of them converting tilapia capacity.

The value of tilapia coming into the United States fell 10.8 percent overall from January to April 2013 compared to the same time last year, according to statistics released by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).

Reports from several provinces in South China show that sales of tilapia seedlings are running well below volumes of last year. Prolonged rainy and cold weather is affecting stocking. As a result, estimates of production are decreasing.

Honduras' National Aquaculture Association (Andah) has said the country has found a way to grow tilapia in salt water.

The value of tilapia imports entering the United States rose 16.7 percent in 2012 from the previous year, nearing $1 billion (€746 million).

In November, the average price at Customs of fresh fillets was down 3% on that of the previous month and 2% on that of November 2011. The price of the frozen presentation was up 2% on that of the previous month and down 1% on that of November 2011.

As a product, tilapia ticks many boxes. It is available in large volumes; it’s mild in flavor and easy to cook; it freezes and defrosts well; and it’s very affordable. From a production perspective, the fish is sustainably farmed using little, if any, marine feeds; and it’s a very fast growing and resilient species.