Aquaculture practices and market strategies of farmed tilapia in China

Abstract

Tilapia has become one of the major species of aquatic products in close link with both domestic and
international markets. Nowadays, the demand for fish and fisheries product has being exacerbated by
the continued increase in human population the world over. This was due to the fact that global
captured fishery was declining following the increased human exploitation for the commercially
important fishes. Aquaculture or fish farming has become one of the solutions to maintaining the
continuous supply of fish to commercial markets. China was by far the largest producer and exporter of
tilapia products irrespective of some constraints such as soaring production costs, price and weather
fluctuations. In the country, tilapia production was mostly carried out in the southern and southeastern
coastal areas where subtropical conditions favored the growth and reproduction of the species. This
paper reports on production and marketing systems of tilapia in China. Tilapia products produced in
China had to pass through different channels before reaching their final consumers. Major international
markets for tilapia products produced in China included among others, the United State, European
Union and Russia. This work will guide potential investors and competitors for tilapia market in China
and the world at large.