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ARS Home » Plains Area » Brookings, South Dakota » Integrated Cropping Systems Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #258549
Title: Tilapia: profile and economic importance

Author
item Mjoun, Kamal
item Rosentrater, Kurt
item BROWN, MICHAEL - South Dakota State University

Submitted to: Extension Publications
Publication Type: Experiment Station
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/2/2010
Publication Date: 10/29/2010
Citation: Mjoun, K., Rosentrater, K.A., Brown, M.L. 2010. Tilapia: profile and economic importance. Available: http://pubstorage.sdstate.edu/AgBio_Publications/articles/fs963-01.pdf.

Interpretive Summary: Nile tilapia’s various attributes and an increasing global demand for this fish make it one of the most cultured species, with a global production estimated at nearly 2.5 million tonnes in 2010, and an estimated value of approximately $5 billion. Increased demand in the U.S. market for tilapia products is primarily satisfied by imports from China, which supplies frozen products, and from South American countries, which supply fresh tilapia. Domestic U.S. tilapia production is relatively small, and accounts for less than 5% of total global consumption. The tremendous growth of the tilapia industry is likely to continue in the foreseeable future and will incite many tilapia farming opportunities. Therefore the objective of this paper is to provide a brief overview of Nile tilapia for aquaculture producers. It will cover basic facts about this fish, world production and trade, U.S. production and consumption, and basic nutritional information.

Technical Abstract: Nile tilapia’s various attributes and an increasing global demand for this fish make it one of the most cultured species, with a global production estimated at nearly 2.5 million tonnes in 2010, and an estimated value of approximately $5 billion. Increased demand in the U.S. market for tilapia products is primarily satisfied by imports from China, which supplies frozen products, and from South American countries, which supply fresh tilapia. Domestic U.S. tilapia production is relatively small, and accounts for less than 5% of total global consumption. The tremendous growth of the tilapia industry is likely to continue in the foreseeable future and will incite many tilapia farming opportunities. Therefore the objective of this paper is to provide a brief overview of Nile tilapia for aquaculture producers. It will cover basic facts about this fish, world production and trade, U.S. production and consumption, and basic nutritional information.