Tilapia

Tilapia is a hardy, fast-growing fish that has long been a staple source of protein in many developing nations and, recently, is in high demand in developed nations. This includes the United States, where tilapia is 8th on the list of top ten seafoods consumed.

Approximately 2.3 million metric tons of tilapia is produced annually of which 73 percent is farmed. Most of the tilapia is produced in China, followed by Egypt, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines. Although not listed as major producing countries, Costa Rica, Honduras and Ecuador are important suppliers of fresh tilapia fillets to the United States. Most tilapia is imported to the United States, the European Union and Japan. 

Main impacts of tilapia aquaculture
The increased demand for tilapia has shifted many tilapia producers from subsistence growers to larger, export-driven producers. This shift has created environmental impacts - both real and perceived. The main impacts related to tilapia aquaculture are:

1. Effluents in the water - Excess nutrients from food can be released into the environment, which can limit the amount of oxygen available to aquatic plants and animals.
   
2. Compromise of ecological integrity of aquaculture facilities - Overstocking, stress and other factors can make farmed tilapia susceptible to viruses and diseases; establishing areas for aquaculture can require altering natural habitat and diverting water for other uses; and tactics, such as killing birds, can be used to minimize the number of species preying on farmed tilapia.
   
3. Pollution from inputs used at aquaculture facilities - Feed and/or fertilizer used in excess at tilapia aquaculture facilities can pollute the water.
   
4. Invasive species - Nonnative tilapia that escape from aquaculture facilities where the species is not already established can compete with native fish species and change the genetic makeup and diversity of species.
   
5. Socioeconomic impacts - Aquaculture can conflict with other uses of an area or resource, such as the use of water bodies for recreation and reliance on landscapes for scenic vistas. Also, tilapia farming often employs a large number of workers on farms and in processing plants, potentially raising issues around labor practices and workers' rights.

The Tilapia Aquaculture Dialogue standards have been finalised in December 2009.

Watch a video on the Tilapia Aquaculture Dialogue standards

Download the standards