Martinsville home to largest producer of farm-raised tilapia in the world

Blue Ridge Aquaculture in Martinsville Virginia USA is the largest tilapia producing farm in the world. Bill Martin founder and CEO of Blue Ridge Aquaculture said that in the 80’s he dabbled in the catfish business, with little success, then he switched to tilapia, today his company produce some four million pounds a year of tilapia.

Every day 10,000 to 20,000 live fish leave the local facility alive, and the demand for live fish is growing especially in Asian and Hispanic populations. Workers are also extremely pound of the company's ability to be self-sustaining.  Blue Ridge recycles about 85 to 90 percent of it's water (used by the fish) It also captures its own waste and does not rely on the ocean to feed its tilapia. Read more...


This blog is written by Martin Little The Aquaculturists, published and supported by the International Aquafeed Magazine from Perendale Publishers.