Tilapia is a delicious fish

Tilapia is a firm, white fish that is similar in appearance to sunfish, and similar in taste to cod and flounder. It is easily prepared, and considered by many to be superior to catfish in flavor and texture. It is an extremely popular fish worldwide, and in 2003 was the 9th most consumed fish in the US with over 391 million pounds imported and consumed. It has long been a favorite in North America’s Asian communities and is becoming increasingly popular among chefs, chain restaurants and mainstream consumers.

Tilapia is ideally suited for large-scale production, as it is hardy, grows quickly, and tastes great! Additionally, tilapia is very efficient at converting feed to body mass. For example, tilapia requires approximately 1.2 pounds of feed to grow by one pound. This is contrasted with beef which requires 6 to 8 pounds of feed to grow by one pound, hogs which require 2.5 pounds of feed, poultry which requires 2.2 pounds, and salmon which requires 1.8 pounds.

Fish Consumption Trends

Tilapia consumption in the US has risen rapidly, and it has now surpassed flounder and scallops to become the ninth most popular fish in the US. It is a freshwater fish that is native to Africa, and is one of the most popular fish in the world.

Current levels of US seafood consumption (lbs/capita) by fish species (Seafood Business November 2003, industry sources)

  2002 1990
Species Rank Lbs/capita Rank lbs/capita
Shrimp 1 3.70 2 2.20
Tuna 2 3.10 1 3.70
Salmon 3 2.02 5 0.73
Pollock 4 1.13 4 1.28
Catfish 5 1.10 6 0.70
Cod 6 0.66 3 1.39
Crabs 7 0.57 7 0..29
Clams 8 0.55 10 0..62
Tilapia 9 0.40    
Flatfish 10 0.32 8 0.57


On a worldwide basis, the following chart shows the rising popularity of salmon, tilapia and catfish.

Tonnes (thousands)

World yearly production of salmonids, tilapia and catfish (FAO, 2002).

TILAPIA MARKETS

The market for tilapia is growing rapidly, primarily because tilapia is an excellent food product with a mild flavor that is adaptable to many styles of preparation. Most food industry professionals agree that tilapia has a greater market potential than catfish due to tilapia’s superior texture and flavor. (The US catfish market is approximately 630 million pound per year market.) Tilapia is now routinely found in most supermarkets and on many restaurant menus, and we believe the market for tilapia will grow to over 500 million pounds per year within the next 5 years.

For cooking, Tilapia can be substituted for almost any fish in your favorite recipe. It is firm enough that it can be grilled on a barbecue, or used in a chowder. It can be pan fried, breaded and deep fried, or steamed. It’s mild flavor takes well to sauces, whether delicate or bold.

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