There is currently an optimistic situation for tilapia farmers. Market conditions have brought a rebound in demand for this species, especially in fresh fillet, which is certainly preferred
to imported product that has been frozen for many days.
In this regard, the director of the Aquamol de Jamay company, Carlos Molina Sahagún, said that this year several factors have been combined in favor of tilapiera aquaculture, such as the reduction in the capture of prey due to the drought, the decrease in Asian imports, and the fact that families cook more at home because of the conditions that the pandemic has brought. The Jamay company is a Latin American benchmark in the production of tilapia on the farm.
Molina remarked that this scenario has brought a relevant rebound in the production of offspring, so that a substantial growth is expected from the yearly average of 20 to 25 million offspring in its facilities on the shore of Lake Chapala.
He also mentioned that in the recent period there were very good sales of filleted product, so that his company dispensed with marketing in the Valley of Mexico, given the increase in demand in the western area, especially in Jalisco, Guanajuato, and Michoacán.
He explained that recently “consumption increased, it was noticed. I believe that tilapia consumption increased by 20 or 25% compared to other years. Now there was no need to send elsewhere. We used to send to Mexico City, but (this year) it remained here in the area.”
He also indicated that aquaculture farms in the State of Morelos that had traditionally specialized in the production of ornamental fish, have now been converted for the production of tilapia, which is another strong sign of the growth of the market for this species in the domestic sphere.
Molina stressed that tilapia-based dishes are an attraction in restaurants in the gastronomic area of this municipality and others on the Chapala lakeshore.
Due to the importance that farmed fish have characteristics that guarantee their quality, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER Jalisco), in coordination with the State Committee for Aquaculture Health of the State of Jalisco, promotes the certification of farms, so that compliance with good practices in the production of edible fish and amphibians is accredited.
Jalisco is among the main tilapia producing states, along with Chiapas, Michoacán, Nayarit, and Sinaloa.
https://sader.jalisco.gob.mx/prensa/noticia/3439