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THE FARM

On a practical level, farming with fish presents it's own challenges and working with tilapia is no exception. They are fairly smart creatures and learn to evade harvesting equipment very quickly. Large-scale commercial culture of tilapia is limited almost exclusively to the culture of three species: Oreochromis niloticus , O. mossambica and O. aureus . Of the three tilapia species with recognized aquaculture potential, the Nile tilapia, O. niloticus , is by far the most commonly used species in fish farming. The opportunity in South Africa is to look at our own indigenious species and focus on there commercial production. The benefits are many and foremost the reduction in disease, it is a tough fish, easy to handle and does well in captivity.

THE FARM On a practical level, farming with fish presents it's own challenges and working with tilapia is no exception. They are fairly smart creatures and learn to evade harvesting equipment very quickly. Large-scale commercial culture of tilapia is limited almost exclusively to the culture of three species: Oreochromis niloticus , O. mossambica and O. aureus . Of the three tilapia species with recognized aquaculture potential, the Nile tilapia, O. niloticus , is by far the most commonly used species in fish farming. The opportunity in South Africa is to look at our own indigenious species and focus on there commercial production. The benefits are many and foremost the reduction in disease, it is a tough fish, easy to handle and does well in captivity.			SELECTION Bad genetic selection made all to often can lead to an inferior product. If one is logical about the process and consider the features a consumer would be looking for it is quite obvious. Here is an example of a fish that is not suitable for the table. The fish does not have a deep body, it is long and narrow with a large head and unsuitable tail area.

Aquaculture
A pigsty which has been turned into a over wintering facility with great success. the ponds are 2X3X1m and can hold on average 20 000 fish at a average weight of 50grams.			This fish on the other hand has a far more suitable body shape, Smaller head, deeper body with good fillet shape. Body is also wide which will present a better yield.