Red tilapia cultivation gaining popularity with its more appealing color

AGLIPAY, Quirino -- The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) established first-ever techno-demo project of red tilapia in landlocked areas in San Antonio, Aglipay, Quirino on June 23, 2022.

About 8,000 red tilapia fingerlings with an initial Average Body Weight (ABW) of 4 grams had been transferred to the 950-sqm freshwater fishpond where they will be taken care of until they are ready for harvest.

The BFAR officials cited the impact of the red tilapia commodity which could be a potential substitute for the expensive maya-maya.

Its natural light to reddish body color looks more appealing that could attract the attention of both the consumers and farm growers.

Precisely this appealing color may be the reason why red tilapia is slowly getting recognized as an important fish species for aquaculture.

Several fishpond owners showed interest in this commodity which could trigger a remarkable boost to aquaculture since it can be cultured in a wide variety of methods.

They can be cultured in freshwater, brackish water ponds, fish cages, fish tanks and pens.

The BFAR said that red tilapia is a manmade tilapia variant, a product of crossbreeding of two tilapia species, Oreochromis aureus and Oreochromis mossambicus.

The Luzon-wide project establishment in Regions 1, 2, 3, and CAR was first realized in July of 2019 and will end in November of this year.

The stocking of this first-ever techno-demo project involving red tilapia in the uplands was initiated by Dr. Evelyn Ame, the project leader and was spearheaded by PFO Christopher Casco, Ms. Riza Undiana, Fisheries Training Division staff and Ms Yolanda Guerrero of the Provincial Agriculture Office-Quirino.