Page 28 - FoodFocusThailand No.211 OCTOBER 2023

SPECIAL FOCUS

to culture and breed. Tilapia flesh is white and has good
taste; they can be cooked by many culinary techniques. One
hundred grams of tilapia flesh contains about 20% of protein,
2% of fat, and low calories (about 100 kilocalories). Moreover,
their flesh also contains healthy unsaturated fatty acids, such
as omega-3 (about 0.15 %) and omega-6 (about 0.12 %).
Tilapia can be cultured in either earthen pond culture or
cage culture in the natural reservoirs. The culture period
ranges typically from 4 – 6 months from small size (5 – 30
grams of fish to the market size). The market size is ranged
from 700 grams to 1 kilogram of fish. Tilapia’s price ranges
from 45 – 80 Thai baht per kilogram of fish, depending on
the location and economic situation. The typical feed
conversion ratio of tilapia is 1.5, which means using 1.5
kilograms of feed to produce 1.0 kilogram of fish. The
production cost of one kilogram of fish ranges from 40 – 50
Thai baht per kilogram. In addition, there are three factors
Overview of Aquatic Animal Production and influencing the profit of the production: (1) fish quality, (2)
Consumption in Thailand feed quality, and (3) environmental quality.
Food fishes are the product of the fishery. In addition, the The profitability of aquaculture depends on fish and feed
fishery has two types of activity: (1) capture fishery and (2) quality and the environment. Feed is the major cost of the
culture fishery. Fisheries and aquaculture play a significant production costs (about 60% of the production cost). Feed
role in food security and the economy of Thailand. However, has been involved from hatchery and nursery to grow-out.
Thailand is one of the natural and water resources richness Agricultural commodities, such as cereal grains, tuber crops,
countries in the Asia-Pacific region. The yield from capture and oilseeds, have been used as the feed ingredient for
fisheries is not increased to satisfy the increasing demand aquaculture feed production. The commodity price has a
for consumption. As a consequence, aquaculture is a solution direct effect on the feed production cost.
and has long-term potential for increasing fisheries production
for both local consumption and export, as well as for achieving Environmental Impacts on Aquatic Animal
country incomes from high-value cultured aquatic species, Production and Fisheries
such as white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei). Aquaculture in The negative environmental phenomena, such as global
Thailand can be divided into two categories: (1) Inland warming or greenhouse effects, has the impact to agricultural
freshwater aquaculture and (2) Coastal aquaculture. commodity production. Moreover, the global temperature
Aquaculture, manly earthen pond or cage culture, has been could increase the water body temperature. As a
practiced in Thailand. The three main aquaculture products consequence, the chances of disease infection have been
are shrimps (389,500 tonnes or 40% of the production), increased and affected to aquaculture production.
finfish (377,100 tonnes or 38% of the production), and The global population has been estimated to be 10 billion
mollusks (about 223,500 tonnes or 22% of the production). in 2050. Consequently, the demand for food and protein will
A variety of food fishes or economical aquatic animal increase by about 52% of the current production. Therefore,
species are popular in Thailand, such as Nile tilapia all food industries might need to increase their production
(Oreochromis niloticus), hybrid catfish (Clarias spp.), and capacity (about 52%). Although aquaculture has lower
snakeskin gourami (Trichogaster pectoralis), giant freshwater carbon dioxide emission (carbon footprint of about 3
prawn (Macobrachium rosenbergii), white-legged shrimp kilograms CO /kilogram) than most livestock, such as swine
2
(Penaeus vannamei), Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer), etc. production (6 kilograms CO /kilogram of pig) and cattle beef
2
All the food fishes species contain essential nutrients for production (30 kilograms CO /kilogram of beef). However,
2
humans, such as unsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 and the increasing aquaculture production still requires the
omega-6), vitamins, and minerals. In this case, Nile tilapia bioresources and creates the environmental impacts.
are shown in this article. Tilapia is one of the most important Suppose the global tilapia production increases from
species in the world (third highest production for fish), as 4,525,400 tones to 6,878,608 tones in 2050. The carbon
well as in Thailand (first highest production for fish). Tilapia dioxide will be released to 20,635,825 tonnes. In sustainability
production in Thailand came from inland freshwater aspects, this issue might probably be of concern to every
aquaculture and was about 377,100 tonnes/year (sharing food producer, as well as Thailand aquaculture.
38% of the production). The world tilapia production was
reported at about 4,525,400 tones/year. Tilapia is a versatile
and tolerant freshwater fish that can adapt to live in both
freshwater and brackish water. They grow fast and are easy More Information Service Info C002

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