Challenges of breeding tilapia

Tehran, Dec 9, IRNA - The breeding of tilapia is rising due to its rapid growth, reproduction, adaptation to salty water, low production costs, disease resistance and its production in diverse climatic conditions, said an official. Farhad Rajabipour, deputy head of National Research Center of Saline Water Aquatic made the statement in an exclusive interview with 'Iran Daily', published Tuesday. “After carp, tilapia is considered the second most prevalent aquatic species worldwide,” he added. On the advantages of tilapia, Rajabipour said tilapia is considered as both freshwater and warm-water fish. “However, given its adaptation to various climatic conditions, it is cultivated in saline waters,” he added. Studies conducted in the National Research Center of Saline Water Aquatics showed 24 tons of tilapia could be harvested in every hectare, which figure is three tons for carp. Rajabipour said live tilapia was imported and bred as a pilot project at Bafq Research Center of Saline Water Aquatics in Yazd province in 2008. “The results show a bright perspective for the fisheries sector. The low cost of breeding tilapia make the job profitable,” he said. Given the high flexibility and resistance of tilapia, the official said it is considered a serious rival for other aquatics in the natural habitat. “However, when tilapia is bred in dry provinces, far from natural rivers and not released into natural ecosystems, it won’t be harmful to Nature,” he said. “In addition, cultivation of tilapia in dry and desert regions could generate jobs.” Rajabipour said at least 6,000 tons of tilapia were imported in the year to March 2014. “A private fish breeding center in Bafq has obtained the permit for breeding tilapia in the current Iranian year (started March 20, 2014) and harvested 20 tons of products,” he concluded. **1425