All male Tilapia

Scientists at the University of Wales, Swansea, UK have developed a way to produce all male Tilapia fish biologically. Until now, this could be achieved only by treating Tilapia fingerlings with hormones, which can present problems. All male Tilapia are necessary for maximum production. If females are present in a pond males become sexually mature very quickly and are not worth eating because they are so small. But if it is possible to inhibit this maturation' the males will put their energy into growth. They are then ready for the market in a few months The key to the new technique is gymogenesis, which is the deveIopment of eggs without fertilization, and which then carry only those genes derived from the mother. The technique causes male fish, which carry those genetic factors for producing males, to be converted into females. By gynogenesis these fish give birth to, and carry only those genes coming from the mother, which means they will all be male. The technique that requires a hatchery with the necessary equipments but such a hatchery could then supply all-male fingerlings to local fish forms. And this is what scientists from Swansea are now doing in the Philippines. Trials are now under way with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to find a suitable hatchery which will undertake some trials. Local fish farmers who will join in the trials will then be sought. For more details,contact: School of Biological Sciences University of Wales Swansea SA2 8PP UKScientists at the University of Wales, Swansea, UK have developed a way to produce all male Tilapia fish biologically. Until now, this could be achieved only by treating Tilapia fingerlings with hormones, which can present problems. All male..