· Hardy, easy to breed and high survival

· Fast growing, multiple harvests per year

· Ease of production (feeding regime, management approach)

· Disease resistant

· Able to be transported live

· Improved strains are available

· Moderate to high economic value

· Potential for export

Seed
· Hatchery production required to maintain stock quality

· Simple low tech hatchery design

Grow-out
· Amenable to multiple production systems, from small subsistence pond production to semi-intensive, commercial and high intensive systems (e.g. raceway, recirculation systems)

· Other Pacific Islands have attempted to introduce tilapia for aquaculture but with limited success to date. This is probably due to a lack of staff trained in tilapia culture practices and technologies and limited resource availability

· Domestic market potential in Fiji is high and expanding rapidly. There is potential for export markets. Trial shipments have been made to the USA and Australia from Fiji

· Tilapia is sold either whole or as fillets, live or frozen for the domestic market, frozen for the international market

· There is limited opportunity for value adding (perhaps smoking)

Advantages

· Easy species to culture and very hardy

· Production systems are relatively cheap

· Short culture cycle and amenable to low input systems

· Acceptable as a food fish in most locations

· On large islands, it can be an important protein source in inland regions

· Improved strains are available

· Feed technology is advanced

· Women are commonly involved in production systems (e.g. Fiji)

· Primarily freshwater but there is potential for brackish water culture

· Colour variants are available (e.g. Red strains)

· Potential for integrated farming and polyculture

Advantages
· Easy species to culture and very hardy

· Production systems are relatively cheap

· Short culture cycle and amenable to low input systems

· Acceptable as a food fish in most locations

· On large islands, it can be an important protein source in inland regions

· Improved strains are available

· Feed technology is advanced

· Women are commonly involved in production systems (e.g. Fiji)

· Primarily freshwater but there is potential for brackish water culture

· Colour variants are available (e.g. Red strains)

· Potential for integrated farming and polyculture

Disadvantages
· Limited cold tolerance (culture requires 20°C)

· Poor stock management may produce stunting

· Potential for hybridisation among stocks, which can reduce productivity

· Likely escape into natural river systems, and impact on native fish and other species

· Limited cold tolerance (culture requires 20°C)

· Poor stock management may produce stunting

· Potential for hybridisation among stocks, which can reduce productivity

· Likely escape into natural river systems, and impact on native fish and other species