Lessons from two decades of tilapia genetic improvement in Africa

Abstract

African aquaculture has increased in importance since 2000 due primarily to dwindling capture fisheries and its demonstrable success in Egypt, which is the only African country among the world’s top ten producers of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). This case study provides an overview of tilapia breeding programmes in Africa with a main focus on the Genetically Improved Abbassa Nile Tilapia (GIANT) breeding programme in Egypt. The main steps for establishing a tilapia breeding programme are described, together with the specific lessons learnt in Egypt.