Tilapia

Tilapia is a nice fish for aquaculture, because it needs little food to grow. Sustainable farmed ASCASC:
Aquaculture Stewardship Council, a worldwide eco-label for responsible cultivated fish. tilapia is available on the Dutch market since 2012 and within the standard of the ASC ‘only’ 0,8 kg wild fish is needed to grow 1 kg of tilapia. Furthermore, they work towards more sustainable ingredients for the feed.

Next to the feed, the creation of the ASC standard is unique for the dialogue between the many stakeholders. This has led to a standard that is strict and realistic and they handle the most important negative effects of aquaculture. For example, that the waste products don’t burden the environment too much, the amount of escapes of tilapia, the abuse of antibiotics and whether the company is run in a socially responsible way.

Tilapia is a so called vegetarian fish, it can grow well on a diet with only vegetable feed, but in aquaculture they are given often feed with fish meal and fish oil because the fish grows faster. Fortunately less than half a kg is needed to produce 1 kg tilapia.

The water in the recirculation systems needs to be warmed because tilapia needs a minimum temperature, and this cost energy. In open recirculation systems there is moderate discharge of effluents.

Tilapia comes originally from Africa, but it is worldwide introduced by mankind. The fish can reproduce very fast and have therefore managed to create wild populations in many countries. They have had a large impact on ecosystems outside of Africa for that reason. It is still important to minimalise the escapes of tilapia. Tilapia is however  a very important food source worldwide. The fish doesn’t have high demands on the environment, reproduces easily and can grow well on a vegetarian diet (although it grows faster when it also eats animal products). It is unknown how much the harmful effects are limited by the unregulated aquaculture.