Fao Debunks The

More Toy Than Wonder

Tilapi A Myth

INTRODUCED as a potential protein food source, the hardy fish tilapia mossambica has been widely distributed in the South Pacific islands in recent years. Pond reared, these fish are only now com ing to maturity.

It is therefore interesting that the United Nations Food and Agr culture Organisation has seen fit to warn against undue optimism about the fish.

In an article headed, Destroying a Myth About Tilapia, in a recent United States Commercial Fisheries Review issue, the FAO statement says, in part: “Since the end of the war, the world has become conscious of the ‘wonder fish’ tilapia mossambica. It has been talked about so much some people are beginning to believe that if there is anything a fish can do the tilapia mossambica can do it. . . but, unfortunately, it cannot sup port its reputation and is quite un suitable as the mainstay of a serious fish-culture industry. It is a useful odd-job fish, a pleasant and

dramatic introduction to fish farm ing for the inexperienced worker; it is more of a toy fish than a wonder fish.”

The article notes the fish’s hardi ness and its quick growth (about 5 oz in 10 months) but says this yield is low compared with that of most other fish used in fish-culture in dustries.

“Certainly it grows very quickly to an edible size but then its growth slows down very much,” it says. “A good yield can only be obtained after very heavy stocking of a pond.”

The statement warns that ponds must be watched close see that they do not become stocked; otherwise none of thi will reach a useful size.

It points out that there are; 100 varieties of tilapia and. varieties other thdn moss® may have a much greater t Two of these, tilapia melanojc and tilapia macrochir, having ferent feeding habits, ma= usefully raised together in 3 Eating different food they c: more heavily stocked and yie

•ic tons a acre have reported such com io n s in short, the statement out that ilapia mos

i, properly

id, is an jly useful should not ced on as ultimate, varieties mbinations Drove fai and this for much icntation.

nion FAO has is not shared Cook Islands e small fish ed as a tasty ese photo which were ed by NZ's Publi city how, top, the it of Agri ish pond on imental farm [?]onga; and ome of the eing prepared at a demon put on for of the Island May. (PIM 164). Those privileged to [?]e fish were surprised and them de he pond was June, 1955, pairs of fish t is estimated here are the largest it nine inches