Overview

Tilapia (including all species and hybrids) is the second most important group of farmed fish after carp and the most widely grown of any farmed fish. It is farmed in at least 85 countries, with most production coming from Asia (China) and Latin America (Ecuador, Costa Rica and Honduras).

The global supply of farmed tilapia surged in the 1990s and early 2000s, largely due to genetic improvements through widespread introduction of improved tilapia breeds, feed supply availability, effective management of reproduction through sex reversal and hybridization, and expansion of consumer markets.  May 2011 ... Tilapia

Marketing

• American Tilapia Association - Nonprofit organization that supports and facilitates the growth of tilapia production and consumption within the United States.
• Annual Commercial Landing Statistics, Fisheries Statistics, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).
• Aquaculture Certification Council - A nongovernmental body established to certify social, environmental and food safety standards at aquaculture facilities throughout the world.
• Census of Aquaculture (2005), National Ag Statistics Service (NASS), USDA, 2006.
• Global Agricultural Trade System (GATS), Foreign Ag Service (FAS), USDA.
• Import and Exports of Fishery Products 2010, Fisheries Statistics Division, NMFS, May 2011.
• Marketing of Tilapia in the USA, University of Arizona.
• Seafood Intelligence - Business news portal for the international seafood industry.
• The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2010: Facing challenges and seizing opportunities, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), United Nations (UN), January 2011.
• The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture, FAO, UN, 2010.
• Tilapia Market Report, Globefish, FAO, UN, February 2011 - Worldwide production of tilapia was predicted to reach 3.7 million metric tons during 2010.
• World Supply and Demand of Tilapia, Globefish, FAO, UN, 2010.

Production

• Aquaculture Enterprises: Considerations and Strategies, ATTRA, National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service, NCAT, 2006 - This publication surveys the important considerations for planning an aquaculture enterprise.
• Aquaponics—Integration of Hydroponics with Aquaculture, ATTRA, National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service, NCAT, 2006.
• Update on Tilipia and Vegetable Production, Agricultural Experiment Station, University of the Virgin Islands, 2004.
• Culture of Hybrid Tilapia, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, 2006.
• Ethanol Facilities Intention: Go Fishin', Des Moines Register, 2007 - A Wisconsin ethanol plant plans to venture into large-scale aquaculture, using steam from the ethanol plant to heat the water in the proposed fish tanks.    
• Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia (GIFT) Fish, WorldFish Center.
• Introduction to Tilapia Nutrition, University of Arizona.
• Managing Systems for Tilapia Culture, Auburn University.
• Nile Tilapia Cultured Aquatic Species Fact Sheet, Fisheries Global Information System, FAO, UN.
• North Carolina Aquaculture Production Statistics, NCDA&CS Aquaculture Division - Summarized by number of producers, species, pounds of production and estimated value.
• Tilapia, North Carolina State University Aquaculture Extension.
• Tilapia Farm Business Management and Economics: A Training Manual, Aquaculture/Fisheries Center, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, 2006 - Efficient management of a tilapia farm can make the difference between profits and losses, even in years with unfavorable prices and costs.
• Tilapia Production, Southern Regional Aquaculture Center, Texas A&M University.

Businesses/Case Studies

• Cabbage Hill Farm, Mt. Kisco, New York - Tilapia and leaf lettuce are the main products of this farm, although basil and watercress are also grown in smaller quantities.
• Premier Organic Farms, Carrollton, Texas- This farming enterprise uses organic growing practices as the basis for its state-of-the-art aquaponics operation. The company has developed specialized organic growing techniques for production of fresh organic tilapia and some other crops.
• S & S Aqua Farm, West Plains, Missouri - The owners of this farm use a simple, reliable, low-cost growing system to produce premium tilapia and fresh herbs and vegetables.

Links checked June 2011.