Tilapia: How an invasive fish came to dominate our ecology, food and psyche

Tilapia: How an invasive fish came to dominate our ecology, food and psyche

By Aaron Savio Lobo

Source: monga bay

10/15/2020

Tilapia are among several fish species belonging to the family Cichlidae, native to Africa and the Middle East. Their ability to adapt to a wide variety of conditions, their omnivorous food habits and their popularity in the aquaculture sector have resulted in tilapias being introduced to several parts of the world.
The Mozambique and the Nile tilapia were introduced into India to boost food security. However, through both accident and intentional release, the species have established themselves through large sections of the country’s waterways, making their way into biodiversity hotspots as well.

Creating a market for an invasive species like the tilapia, if not done with a clear understanding about their threat to local ecosystems and reasons for their eradication, can have serious consequences for natural ecosystems and ecosystem services.
On the eve of the World Food Day (October 16), Aaron Savio Lobo examines the complex issues around tilapia in this commentary.

Tilapia

Continue...

News Id		Source	Stamp	country
1426	The three fish that have shaken up Bangladesh’s aquaculture sector	thefishsite	2023-09-29	BD
1427	Government committee calls for improved fish slaughtering standards	thefishsite	2023-09-29	UK
1428	An Invasive Catfish Predator Is Eating Its Way Into Another Georgia River	usnews	2023-09-27	US
1429	Наживка от деда Семёна	ohotniki	2023-09-24	RU
1430	Every fish in B.C.'s Emerald Lake may have to be killed after signs of rare parasite detected	CBC News	2023-09-22	CA
1431	106-pound catfish highlights Alton Catfish Classic	theintelligencer	2023-09-10	UK
1432	Underwater dentist: Find out why this fish is cleaning mouth of a diver	New Delhi	2023-09-13	IN
1433	Britain’s fish populations are in a ‘deeply troubling state’	theguardian	2023-09-13	UK
1434	FEMA’s flood insurance program imperils protected Oregon fish species, federal suit claims	courthousenews	2023-09-14	US
1435	Reeling them in at Kids and Cops Fishing day in Cornwall	standard-freeholder	2023-10-02	CA
1436	Dokken: After 10 years and 280 miles, tagged Manitoba catfish caught twice in 2 weeks in Grand Forks	echopress	2023-09-29	CA
1437	Veterans enjoy fishing, fellowship during Red River catfish event	echopress	2023-09-29	US
1438	From bug spray to antidepressants, chemicals harm fish in northern Minnesota	echopress	2023-09-30	US
1439	Is it safe to eat the fish? Community concerns prompt testing off Lahaina shores	khon2	2023-09-15	NZ
1440	Monstrous sea lice and jellyfish invasions blighting Scottish salmon farms	theguardian	2023-09-16	UK
1441	Large numbers of dead fish keep washing up along Galveston coast	lmtonline	2023-09-11	US
1442	Study says fish stocks along Atlantic, Pacific coasts unaffected by marine heat waves	thestar	2023-09-11	CA
1443	Man fishing on Sanibel beach reeled in a fish he described as 'prehistoric' looking	Fort Myers News-Press	2023-09-13	US
1444	Lahaina residents hurting from lack of ocean access to fish	khon2	2023-09-14	US
1445	Northeast Ohio police officer helps 7-year-old catch 15 lbs. fish	cleveland19	2023-09-17	US
1446	Woman in northeast China fishes prosperity out of cleaner Chagan Lake	Xinhua	2023-09-17	CN
1447	Fisherman lands 283-pound 'river monster' to beat 72-year-old angling world record	FOX Weather	2023-09-09	US
1448	Washington fisherman catches massive record-breaking mahi mahi	Fox News	2023-09-18	US
1449	Fisherman in Alaska reels in catch that's bright blue on the inside	Fox News	2023-09-21	US
1450	The pioneers seeking to put the burbot on “the main stage of commercial aquaculture”	thefishsite	2023-09-20	US