A Review: Tilapia Culture

 ISBN: 978-0851990149

In 2006 Professor A.-F.M. El-Sayed wrote Tilapia Culture, a comprehensive book on Tilapia. In the book he starts with an extensive history of tilapia culture right up-to modern day practices. He has been engaged in research and teaching activities in marine sciences, particularly, fish biology, fisheries and aquaculture, for 30 years.

He authored or co-authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications, in addition to four books. El-Sayed has participated in more than 40 local, regional and international conferences in fisheries and aquatic sciences as a keynote speaker, session chair, papers presenter or chairman/member of the organising committees.

He is also a member of the scientific committee for the International Master in Aquaculture program, which is hosted at the University of Las Palmas De Grand Canaria, Spain. He obtained his B.Sc. in Oceanography, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt, and M.Sc. in Fish biology, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt, and a Ph.D. in Aquaculture (Fish Nutrition), Michigan State University, USA.

In chapter one he give an historical account of tilapia, early aquaculture, global tilapia production and capture fisheries. He looks at major producers and the species that are cultured he also covers the major producers in Asia, Africa that produce cultured tilapia as well as South America, North America and the Caribbean.

In chapter two he deals with the basic biology and ecology of tilapia, looking at the taxonomy, body shape and external morphology as well as its geographical distribution and the factors affecting it. He also covers the habitat diversity the environmental conditions of the regions that tilapia are found in.

Chapter three covers environmental requirements, such as temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, ammonia and nitrates. He also looks at pH, photoperiod and water turbidity.

In chapters four he looks at semi-intensive culture, with an Overview of Pond Fertilization, inorganic and organic fertilizers. He also covers supplemental feeding, polyculture and integrated culture along with economic efficiency of integrated culture.

In chapter five he delves into the intensive culture area of tilapia production, looking at stocking densities along with cage culture and tank and raceway culture. As well as green-water tank culture, tilapia culture in recirculating systems, effluent treatment and management he also looks at tilapia production in aquaponic systems.

In later chapters of this book Professor El Sayed looks at nutrition and feeding, reproduction and seed production, stress and disease. He also covers harvesting, processing and economics and the role of tilapia culture in rural development along with recent technological innovations. The final chapter of this book deals solely with the environmental impacts that tilapia culture has had on the environment.

A superb and comprehensive book, Professor El Sayed has produced a complete guide to the understanding of tilapia culture that is well written and presented. In my opinion this is a valuable book; this book is for students, researchers and practitioners in aquaculture, as well as anyone with an interest in tilapia farming or fish farming in general. Definitely one to have in your bookcase.

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

 This book can be brought through Perendale Publishers book