Farmed tilapia. (Photo: Luis Eustaquio/Copyright: FIS)

Mexico generates 25 percent of tilapia production in Latin America

MEXICO
Thursday, January 04, 2018, 02:30 (GMT + 9)

Tilapia production experienced a significant growth in Mexico in the last years, thanks to government promotion policies and the producers' effort, which has led the country to generate 25 percent of this species total production in Latin America.

The announcement was made by the National Commission of Aquaculture and Fisheries (Conapesca), which stressed that only a few years ago, Mexico produced 15 percent of the region's tilapia and that percentage increased by 10 points in a short period.

During a visit to the "Strategic Project for the Development of the Commercial Cultivation of Tilapia in the Adolfo López Mateos Dam" in Michoacán, the Conapesca Head, Mario Aguilar Sánchez, emphasized that it is necessary to continue with the promotion of training and adoption of technologies.

Besides, adding the producers' effort will allow that, in a few years, the country will be placed as a productive power for national consumption and the export of species such as tilapia and shrimp, among others, he highlighted.

Aguilar Sánchez pointed out that worldwide aquaculture grows at 6 percent annually, and that includes China, but in Mexico this activity registers an average growth rate of 15 percent, one of the most important increases recognized by FAO.

In reference to the Strategic Project for the Development of the Commercial Crop of Tilapia in the Adolfo López Mateos Dam, he stressed that it will achieve 32,000 tonnes of tilapia production per year in 300 cages that are scheduled to be installed in this dam. It is estimated that this project will generate 1,500 direct and 3,000 indirect jobs.

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