aquaculture and the caribbean

Aquacultureand the Caribbean:

IS IT NEEDED?By Ryan S. Mohammed

24 !!!"!#$%&'()(*+,"-.*FDULEEHDQJRXUPHWPD\MXO\

Tilapia has been intro-duced to at least 15 countries worldwide, with colonies being found on all continents except Antarctica. These introductions have always been as a potential aquaculture species, but this also has led to them becom-ing alien invasive species as well.

Tilapia is the common name of almost 100 species of cichlids, all originat-ing in Africa. Trinidad and Tobagos interest in tilapia started in the 1950s when the first batch of Java or Mozambique tilapia was stocked from a facility in St Lucia. Globally, the Red Hybrids and Nile tilapia are the most cultured species now. Trinidad imported its stock of Red Hybrids from facilities in the US Virgin Islands and Jamaica during the 1980s and then its Nile

tilapia stock from the US Virgin Islands in 1997.

Tilapia has grown in popularity globally and par-ticularly in the Caribbean. Facilities culturing these fish can be found in Jamaica, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, Haiti and Trinidad, among other islands.

As an aquaculture spe-cies, tilapia fulfils all the criteria for intensive culture, namely, they have the ability to be stocked in high den-sity, to reproduce quickly, to grow out in a short period (six months), have high mass production and some degree of disease resistance.

So why culture fish in the Caribbean? Simple: food security. Many people may assume that the sup-ply of fish in the Caribbean Sea and neighbouring Atlantic is never-ending, but this might not be the

Tilapia has grown in popularity glob-ally and particularly in the Caribbean. Facilities culturing these fish can be found in Jamaica, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, Haiti and Trinidad, among other islands.

25!!!"!#$%&'()(*+,"-.* PD\MXO\FDULEEHDQJRXUPHW

case. Several international and regional reports have indicated a decrease (whilst small, still significant) in fish catch over the last decade and projections for the next two decades seem very grim.

Similarly, several fishery biologists suspect that within 50 years, sport fishing may be the only fishing existing from wild marine stocks. This may be compared to sport hunting of wild game today. Aquaculture and

particularly tilapia culture could potentially reduce the extracting pressure from wild marine stocks to allow for some degree of natural stock replenishment.

Another aspect of food security lies within sustain-able use of natural resources such as land and water. In the past aquaculture was focused on pond culture only. Advancements in tech-nologies now allow a wider range and great diversity in the various mechanisms available for tilapia culture.

Whilst not ruling out earthen pond culture, we

can now explore new realms of aquaculture from the prospective of adequate use of real estate. In regions where deep natural ponds, rivers and lakes exist, cage culture may be a possibility. The planning and design of this though is particularly important for environmen-tal concerns for waste man-agement. Other methods exist that have very little or no effluent resulting from grow-out and hatchery facilities.

One such solution lies in integrated farming. Typically, most pond culture farms result in fish grown in green water systems. Similarly, most tank-based culture systems that are exposed to the sunlight are green water systems. It has been shown that crops irri-gated with this water have an increase in yield due to the high nitrogen levels (result-ing from fish waste).

The tank-based green water systems also have an added advantage of produc-ing a thick slurry of waste directly from the filter sys-tems. This has an even high-er concentration of nitrogen and is particularly good for root crops, which have a strong niche in Caribbean markets. Many traditional crop farmers have incorpo-rated this onto their farms with considerable success.

Another means for adequate land and water usage in aquaculture lies in aquaponics. This system integrates the growing of both fish and plants in the same circuit of water flow. Traditional methods of hydroponics influenced this system. Hydroponics allowed plants to grow in the absence of soil. All the nutrients

Several interna-tional and regional reports have indi-cated a decrease (whilst small, still significant) in fish catch over the last decade


required were supplied in a solution to the plants whose roots were submerged in water. The addition of aqua-culture to this system meant that chemical additives such as fertilizers and pesti-cides should not be utilised because these are toxic to the fish. The plants, however, get their nutrients directly from the fish waste.

Whilst the management and design of this system may seem complex, it can be achieved. Green and leaf crops such as traditional herbal seasonings, salad types such as lettuce, cucum-bers and basils have noted success, among others. This system has the potential to produce a weekly supply of vegetables and also crops of fish at the end of the six-month grow-out period. This system also produces a liquid supply of natural fertilizer that can be applied

directly onto field crops. With the exception of fish

feed being the only addi-tive, aquaponics is very close to being completely organic food production. This can be easily installed in a back-yard, allowing a healthy con-sistent supply of food.

It should be noted that aquaculture, particularly tilapia culture, does not aim to displace the fish-ing industry. It is, rather, a mechanism to allow the fishing industry to survive by allowing natural stock replenishment. Tilapia cul-ture does not aim to com-pete with marine fish as a product. It aims to be an optional protein source.

The nutritional content of tilapia is very similar to that of marine fish. The single nutritional advantage however is a reduction in toxins such as mercury which directly results from growing

fish in controlled param-eters.

Tilapia has had consider-able attention as an aquacul-ture species worldwide and is ranked second to carp pro-duction. In the Caribbean, other species that also have aquaculture potential are: Cascadu (Cascadura or Hassar), native to Trinidad and some coastal countries of the South American mainland, and the Black River Conch, again native to Trinidad. Both of these are considered delicacies in T&T, especially when cur-ried.

The typical quote about fishing and feeding men

for life seemed very rel-evant during most of the last century. However, as we look into the near future, pos-sibly an amendment might be made showing the signifi-cance of aquaculture, espe-cially for the Caribbean fish consumer:

Gave a man a fish, fed him for a day. Taught him to fish, fed him for life. Introduced him to aquacul-ture, he started an industry and fed his country!

Ryan S. Mohammed is an ,0/$$*'*"$./- .$ )/,00'/0- ..*$/$*)*!-$)$)*"*(aQua-TT)[email protected]

The nutritional content of tilapia is very similar to that of marine fish. The single nutritional advantage however is a reduction in toxins such as mercury which directly results from growing fish in controlled parameters.

Baked Stuffed Tilapia

27!!!"!#$%&'()(*+,"-.* PD\MXO\FDULEEHDQJRXUPHW

Creole Style Tilapia

Steamed Tilapia With Oriental Accents


2 8-oz tilapia fish, cleaned1 tsp minced garlic1 tbs fresh herb seasoning 1 tbs flour1 onion, chopped finely2 tbs olive oil Congo pepper, seeded and

chopped1 pimento pepper, seeded

and chopped3 ripe medium-size toma-

toes, chopped (tinned or fresh)

2 tbs fresh French thymesalt and freshly ground black

pepper to taste cup golden rum (optional)1 tbs butter

!"#$%&'()$*'+),*'$#-,'#&.'/"//"01'234',$/'5#0-)6'#&.'*"07'$"#$%&)&5890".5"')&'(-%:08;"#,'%)-')&'$#:,#,%"$'#&.',*?>"1'$#:,)&:,"$':&,)-',%>#,%"$'7"5)&',%'$%(,"&1'A..'()$*',%'/%,1'-"#B"'(%0'@'>)&:,"$1'#&.',*"&'5"&,-?',:0&'%B"08A..'7:,,"01'-%+"0'*"#,1'#&.'6%B"08!)>>"0'(%0'2C'>)&:,"$1'7#$,)&5'%66#D$)%--?1'%&-?'#..'+#,"0')('&"6"$$#0?8E*"&'()$*')$',"&."01'0">%B"',%'$"0B)&5'.)$*1'5#0&)$*'+),*'(0"$*'7#$)-'%0'6*#.%&'7"&)8

4 8-oz whole tilapia, cleaned1 tbs minced chives4 cloves garlic, minced1 tbs olive oil

Stuffing:2 tbs olive oil cup onions, finely

chopped cup sweet peppers, finely

chopped cup chives, finely chopped

2 pimento peppers, finely chopped

1 tsp minced garlic2 tbs fresh thyme1 cup fine breadcrumbs1 tbs butter cup grated Parmesan

cheese

F%>7)&"'6*)B"$'+),*'5#0-)6'#&.'%-)B"'%)-8G:7'>)H,:0"'%B"0'()$*'#&.'$/0)&=-"'+),*'$#-,'#&.'7-#6='/"//"08

I0"*"#,'%B"&',%'JCKL8M&'#'-#05"'$#:,',*"'/#&'6%&,)&:%:$-?8'M(',%%'.0?'>%)$,"&'+),*'#'-),,-"'70%,*'%0'+#,"08A..'6*""$"',%'>)H,:0"1'6%>7)&"1'#&.'6%%-8!,:(('()$*'+),*'$,:(()&58F-%$"'6#B),?'+),*'>",#-'$="+"0$8I-#6"')&'(%)-'#&.',"&,8O#="'(%0'#7%:,'4K',%'4C'>)&:,"$':&,)-'()$*')$'6%%=".8

2 8-oz tilapia fish, cleaned1 tbs minced garlic1 tsp fresh herb seasoning 2 tbs vegetable oil1 small onion, sliced thin hot pepper, seeded and

chopped cup coconut milk

1 tbs mild curry powder2 blades chadon beni,

chopped

!"#$%&'()$*'+),*'5#0-)6'#&.'*"07'$"#D$%&)&58;"#,'B"5",#7-"'%)-')&'#'$#:,)H,:0"1'$"#$%&'+),*'$#-,'#&.'7-#6='/"//"08F%%='%&'>".):>'*"#,':&,)-'7:77-?8F%B"0'#&.'$)>>"0'(%0'2K'>)&:,"$1'7#$,)&5'()$*'%66#$)%--?8Q#="'%(('*"#,'#&.'#..'6*#.%&'7"&)8

2 8-oz tilapia fish, cleaned1 tsp minced garlic1 tbs chopped ginger2 tbs sliced chives1 tsp sesame oil1 tbs oyster sauce2 tsp soya sauce

P#="'.)#5%-'$-),$')&,%'()$*8!,:(('5#0-)61'5)&5"01'#&.'6*)B"$')&,%'$-),$8F%>7)&"'$"$#>"'%)-1'%?$,"0'$#:6"'#&.'$%?#'$#:6"8

G:7'>)H,:0"'%&'7%,*'$)."$'%('()$*8!",':/'$,"#>"01'-)&"'+),*'7#'-"#B"$'%0'/#06*>"&,'/#/"08'E*"&',*"'+#,"0'

)$'7%)-)&5':&."0',*"'$,"#>"01'/-#6"'()$*')&'7#$=",8'

F%B"0'#&.'6%%=':&,)-',"&."0'#&.'%/#R:"1'#7%:,'2K',%'2C'>)&:,"$8G">%B"'#&.'$/-#$*'+),*'(0"$*'-)>"'S:)6"8

!"#$%#&'()%#&(*%+,*+Serves 2 to 3

-+.#/&'(011#/&(*%+,*+Serves4

!0""*#/&(*%+,*+&2*(3&!$!$40(&5*%.&Serves 2 to 3

'(#+5#/&(*%+,*+&2*(3&$"*#4(+%&+!!#4('Serves 2 to 3

29+++8+"&.?0#*#>:,86%> PD\MXO\FDULEEHDQJRXUPHW

aquaculture and the caribbean

Documents