EXPERT TOPIC TILAPIA
TILAPIA
EXPERT TOPIC
I
Miracle Fish
(Part 1)
by Ramon Kourie, Chief Technical Officer,
SustAqua Fish Farms (Pty) Ltd.,
n the space of 25 years global farmed tilapia
production has risen from obscurity to become one
of the most important farmed fish species from less
than 398,000 tonnes in 1991 to a predicted global
production of 6.4 million metric tonnes (MMT) in
2017. Projections indicate an expected growth of
2.6 percent in 2018 to 6.5 MMT, significantly lower
than the average growth rate of 12 percent over the
period from 2002 to 2012.
Most of the global production of tilapia is produced in
freshwater pond systems and consumed in producing countries
contributing to food security in the developing world where the
sector is concentrated. China is the leading producer country
followed by Egypt and Indonesia. Production estimates in 2017
have been pegged at 1.7 MMT for China, almost 900,000 metric
tonnes (MT) for Egypt and 800,000 MT for Indonesia.
Surprisingly, less than seven percent of global tilapia production
is internationally traded, the majority of which supplies
growing markets in the United States and more recently Africa.
Nevertheless, leading industry experts in Norway are optimistic
and see tilapia fillets more broadly making inroads into global
whitefish markets in developed countries at competitive prices.
Whitefish is a market-oriented term categorising white fleshed,
non-oily fish where fat reserves are typically in the liver and not
in the flesh and guts. Core wild captured whitefish include cod,
Pollack, hake, hoki and saithe species and core farmed whitefish
include tilapia, pangasius, catfish, cobia and meagre.
Tilapia are the most widely cultivated of all species with
more than 120 countries reporting some commercial activity.
24 | January 2018 - International Aquafeed
In addition, tilapia are cultivated in the highest number of
production environments from rice paddies and simple fertilised
earth ponds to cages in lakes, aquaponics systems, biofloc
technology (BFT) tanks and Recirculation Aquaculture Systems
(RAS) and are considered easy to cultivate.
The progressive expansion of tilapia aquaculture globally
can be divided into three phases each marked by technological
advances driven by research since the 1980’s.
The initial phase (1981-1990) driven by moderately successful
hybridisation of parent gene lines creating faster growing hybrids,
often red in colour which produced fewer male fish, improved
body colour and improved growth rates. Production grew at an
annual average growth rate of 14 percent during the initial phase
from a lower base.
The early growth phase (1991-2000) saw annual production
growth of 13.1 percent largely attributed to the dissemination
of all-male sex reversal technology of tilapias using androgens
to produce close to all-male populations (+95%). Traditional
extensive culture methods were replaced with semi-intensive and
intensive production systems particularly in Central and South
American operations requiring more water exchange, feeding
driven by nutritional research and improved quality control.
Better management and the ability to supply fresh products
to nearby major US cities were advantages that contributed to
adoption of these systems in many countries. Such intensive
production practices increased tilapia supply in this early growth
period of 1991–2000 from 0.4 MMT to 1.19 MMT.
The rapid growth phase (2001-2012) resulting in annual average
production growth of 12 percent from a higher base driven by the
dissemination of improved gene lines across much of Asia and
Central and South America, and to a lesser extent in Africa. The
Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia (GIFT) program on Nile
tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) lead by the WorldFish Center in
Malaysia enabled the rapid scale up of global production. GIFT
tilapia accounted for more than half of the production in Asia
in 2012. The overall contribution of GIFT and GIFT-derived
strains is regarded as the single most significant technological
advancement in the global tilapia farming industry.
The period since 2013 is marked by falling average annual
growth to 8.1 percent year on year, and a further slowing to 2.6
 EXPERT TOPIC TILAPIA

percent from 2017 to 2018. The major reason stems from an

oversupply and market maturity of non-exportable second grade
quality pond farmed tilapia in China and Egypt the world’s first
and second largest producers. Annual tilapia production growth
has however been highly unequal displaying huge untapped local
production potential in Africa (excluding Egypt) and the Middle
East for supply into local and less regulated markets.
The medium-longer term prognosis given global finfish
supply-demand shortfalls of 50 MMT by 2030 according the
Food and Agriculture Organization in 2013 is however telling.
These positive market factors are likely to ensure that prices on
international markets remain firm over the medium term and
gradually increase over the longer term driven by the widening
global whitefish supply-demand gap. While emerging and less
regulated markets in Africa and the Middle East present ideal
opportunities, an almost unlimited market, for tilapia aquaculture Figure 1: Global Tilapia production output from 1991 to 2019
particularly for affordable fresh whole fish which commands a (forcasted for 1027, 2018, 2019) and percentage year on year
annual production growth
premium over frozen product now largely imported into local
markets from Asian producers.
and “not unlike the culinary versatility of chicken,” according to
Miracle fish? Professor Kevin Fitzsimmons, former president of the American
Known as tilapia today, one of, or both the Jordan Saint Peter’s Tilapia Association. They capably convert plant proteins,
fish (Oreochromis aureus) and/or the Galilee St. Peter’s fish diatoms, algae, heterotrophic plankton (biofloc), bacteria,
(Sarotherodon galilaeus) were recorded in all four of the Gospels zooplankton and low trophic level organisms into a valuable,
in the narrative of the “miracle of the five loaves and two fish”. succulent and mild tasting fish enjoyed universally. Indeed, it has
Apart from the biblical narrative, there is substantial reason to been argued that tilapia are perhaps the only truly herbivorous
believe that the peculiar traits of tilapias lend themselves well to fishes since they possess not only a highly efficient digestive
the title ‘miracle fish’. system (3.5 times the length of the fish) but also a highly
Filter-feeding Oreochromis tilapia species are considered the specialised one, capable of producing pH values < 1 facilitating
perfect core whitefish, “every-mans fish”, “the aquatic chicken” the digestion of highly refractory plant carbohydrate compounds.

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EXPERT TOPIC TILAPIA
FishBase has assigned a Trophic Level of 2.0 ± 0.0 to tilapia
somewhat lower than the 3.1 ± 0.46 trophic niche ranking of
pangasius the nearest competing farmed whitefish species in
terms of international volume trade and market niche (Figure 2).
Shrimp were ranked first, crabs ninth and clams tenth which were
excluded from Figure 2.
Under feedlot cage and tank farmed conditions tilapia do
equally well on balanced rations made up entirely of terrestrial
plant proteins and grains free of any animal proteins. As such,
farmed tilapia spare the supply of diminishing marine proteins,
fishmeal, derived from marine reduction fisheries and equally
spare land and resources in the production of terrestrial animal
proteins. Tilapia aquaculture therefore adds to resources that
support food security at regional and global scales due to its
Figure 2: Trophic levels of finfish species on the top 10 list of the
most consumed seafoods the United States of America in 2014
excluding shrimp ranked first, crabs ranked ninth and clams
ranked tenth. Trophic niche status taken from FishBase (Froese
and Pauly, 2018)
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26 | January
January 2018
2018 -- International
International Aquafeed
favourably low trophic niche status (2.0 ± 0.0).
Consequently, “farming down the food web” holds an
environmentally positive meaning, while the opposite, “farming
up the food web” is believed to be less environmentally
sustainable and therefore ethically illogical in the context of
global food security.
Paul Greenberg, a fish-industry expert and the author of two
books about the future of the oceans, ‘Four Fish and American
Catch: The Fight for our Local Seafood’ believes that farmed
tilapia and pangasius, already the fourth- and sixth most-
consumed fish in the US in 2014 respectively, will assume a
greater market share moving up a notch or two on the list of
Americas top 10 most consumed seafoods in the future (Figure
3).
Market segmentation
The global tilapia farming industry is dominated by second
grade product produced in earth pond systems, where fish are
highly prone to flavour taints, or often called a muddy taste,
Aquafeed
 EXPERT TOPIC TILAPIA
caused by blue-green algae and a
variety of organisms which thrive
in the sludge blanket on the bottom
of earth ponds. Such production
most often does not meet first grade
standards for international markets but
nevertheless plays a very important
food security role in developing
countries where most production
is both produced and consumed.
This sentiment is supported by
surveys conducted by CEMARE at
the University of Portsmouth (UK)
indicating differing minimum quality
standards and market segmentation
across the sector.
What is clear is that two tilapia
markets will coexist in most of
the developing world where both
production and consumption is
concentrated, 1) regulated local and highly regulated export Regulated local markets are those where some compliance may
markets for first grade quality tilapia and 2) less regulated local be required to meet industry food safety standards issued by local
markets absorbing second grade quality production. regulatory authorities in addition to perhaps voluntary third party
The highly regulated EU and US markets require quality certification. Less regulated markets are informal rural markets
standards compatible with the Hazard Analysis and Critical and sometimes urban markets where few or no quality, or food
Control Point (HACCP) system and EU Food Law for entry into safety, prescriptions are mandated by local regulatory authorities
US and EU markets respectively. These days highly regulated on unprocessed whole fish for instance.
markets in addition require sustainably produced and responsibly Supply options in attractive less regulated markets in the
farmed certification(s) such as the Aquaculture Stewardship developing world, where local production falls short of local
Council (ASC), Best Aquaculture Practice (BAP) or GLOBAL demand, such as Africa (excl. Egypt) and the Middle East for
G.A.P. supplemented by Friend of the Sea add-on labelling. example, could follow two pathways; 1) produce a second grade

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EXPERT TOPIC TILAPIA

product, often also smaller fish, targeting less affluent and less
formal markets and therefore sell at more affordable prices,
or 2) aim to produce first grade product differentiated trough
branding targeting middle income urban consumers, the catering
industry and formal supermarket retailers in the developing world
or exports into international markets. Branding will become
mandatory to differentiate first grade from second grade product
in countries where both regulated and less regulated markets
coexist.
Stringent compliance standards to meet EU Food Law,
traceability, health control, contaminants and labelling, coupled
with the successful prior penetration of pangasius at competitive
prices has made the EU market less attractive for tilapia suppliers.
The EU market for tilapia presents a contrasted picture to that
across the Atlantic Ocean displayed in the US market. Tilapia
have not been as successful in the EU market. Here pangasius has
claimed a 21 percent share of the EU whitefish market and tilapia
only 3.25 percent in 2014, according to Erik Hempel a renowned
fisheries marketing expert. Some 31,000 tonnes of tilapia were
imported into the EU as compared to some 200,000 tonnes of
pangasius in 2014.
Distances to the EU market for Asian or South America
suppliers is viewed as a disadvantage which makes air freighted
fresh fillets less economical for shipment into European markets,
unalike the Central and South American fresh fillet supply’s into
southern US cities, Miami, Houston, New Orleans etc.
African suppliers could develop and capture the market
potential for fresh fillets in the EU, due to proximity advantages,
although market forces at present are too favourable for local and
regional supply due to huge supply-demand shortfalls in Africa
(excluding Egypt) at the moment. This is evident from the 83,000
tonnes of Chinese farmed whole frozen and breaded tilapia
imported into African markets in 2016 according the Globefish.
On the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, the US tilapia market
is well developed and the value-chain more mature importing
around 224,500 tonnes in 2016 (Figure 5). Wise sourcing of fatty acid composition of tilapia will generally mirror that of their
branded high-quality fresh tilapia products often originating from diets and as such finisher diets consisting of sustainable omega
Central and South American certified commercial operations, 3 sources such as AlgaPrime™ DHA, coupled with vitamin E
just 3 hours flying time away from Miami, has contributed to supplementation, greatly shifts the n-3/n-6 polyunsaturated fatty
their successful dominance of the fresh tilapia fillet market in acid ratio to more healthy levels in the range 1: 2-3 quite easily.
the US. Many of the top commercial South American producers The University of Maryland Medical Centre recommends n-3/n-6
achieve high compliance standards where fish are often depurated ratio’s of 1:4 indicating that finisher diets can offer better ratios
or purged for a few days contributing to the more upbeat market than those recommended in a healthy human diet.
image in North American markets particularly the fresh fillet Unfortunately negative publicity has unnecessarily harmed the
market. image of tilapia in North America and the EU markets, based
Along with quality and quantity supply provisos, leading upon poor and misguided reporting, responsible for a drop in
commercial tilapia operations in Central and South America have tilapia imports into US markets in 2015 of almost three percent
met all the prerequisites for successful penetration into United on 2014 volumes (Figure 5).
States market; improved meat colour and flavour properties (free Market opportunities for green growth and special quality
of flavor taints or a muddy taste), consistent volume supply year- tilapia produced using sustainable intensification technologies
round, product diversity, cost/affordability, traceability and finally should be viewed as an opportunity rather than liability. Green
certifications which have become important in recent years. growth initiatives, covered in Part 2 to follow, will enable
Negative publicity concerning the ill health effects of tilapia producers to move with the moment and in essence capture
consumption due to higher levels of omega-6 fatty acids was consumer trust and market share, while ensuring a sustainable
unfortunate and not reflective of the capacity of producers to and food secure future.
regulate the final proximate composition of tilapia fillets. The ramonkourie@sustaquafishfarms.co.za

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28 | January 2018 - International Aquafeed