Tilapia in Cuba

Thorn Tree forumCountry forumsCuba
Enter custom title (optional)
This topic is locked
Last reply was
80
…
Send as an e-mail
Send as an e-mail
sandyleecamer.655122
sandyleecamer.655122

It appears that tilapia (the fish) is grown in fish-farms in Cuba, and, I would suppose, in rivers, too. Does anybody have information on the prevalence of tilapia in Cuba? Here's a link to today's El País article: https://elpais.com/elpais/2018/05/11/estilo/1525991319_425662.html Although Cuba isn't mentioned in the article, the photo at the outset indicates that tilapia is farmed in Cuba.

An advantage of tilapia is that it's abundant (once it gets a start) and that it's a cheap meal. Among the disadvantages are that it's an invasive and can crowd out some native species. It can also live in both salt and freshwater.

Is the Cuban government promoting this fish as a food source? If so, are they careful to keep this invasive species confined to fish farms, versus allowing it to propagate in rivers?

Back in the mid-1970's, Peace Corps Paraguay (in cooperation with the Paraguayan government, of course) was attempting to introduce tilapia as a food source. I, at least, had no idea about the invasive downside of tilapia. It's for this reason that I'm interested in its presence in Cuba.

Thanks,

Sandy

View last reply
Report
1
greslogo
greslogo

http://www.ipsnews.net/2016/10/cubas-fish-farming-industry-seeks-to-double-output-by-2030/

Why smoke good cigars when there are great cigars.
Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
2
sandyleecamer.655122
sandyleecamer.655122
In response to #1

The linked article is very interesting and informative. Thanks!

One of the commentators to the linked article wondered about whether Cuba is taking any environmental precautions and posted this link, which is also interesting and informative: https://disq.us/url?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.saltscapes.com%2Fpeople-culture-section%2F1871-the-future-of-the-family-fish-farm.html%3ATj7p0SUqwb1nyVw2D20DVp34C80&cuid=1304120

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
3
greslogo
greslogo

Tilapia, yes it's fish, doesn't have much health positives, imo. The only redeeming quality is, it's not red meat.

Why smoke good cigars when there are great cigars.
Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
4
YanquiBoy
YanquiBoy
In response to #3

Exactly.

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
5
bobmichaels
bobmichaels

Cuba faces a constant struggle in almost every aspect trying to balance its responsible long term environmental concerns and its immediate economic problems, many centered on providing nutrition for its residents. Many long term environmental sacrifices are made for the sake of feeding everyone next month. It's not pretty but that is the way Cuba must work.

Independently verify anything important that a stranger tells you on the internet, even this advice.
Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
6
candysita
candysita

My farmer friend in eastern Cuba has dug a big spring fed pond on his farm. He raised tilapia in it as well as turtles. He, his family and the farm workers reap the benefits and it is an economical source of protein. I don't want to start a debate on the ethics of eating farmed turtles. It's protein, it's free, and we cannot compare our first world standards to a third world county where the only cheap protein is pork.

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
7
greslogo
greslogo

I give credit to people with drive and ingenuity. I'm not a vegan and don't have an issue with eating meat and meat by products.

Why smoke good cigars when there are great cigars.
Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
8
caney2
caney2

Watch out... http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/888884/icode/

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
9
viajerauk
viajerauk

I've often spoken to Cubans who mention tilapia - and wrinkle their noses with disgust - when discussing the indignities of the Cuban diet. However, fish in general is undervalued in Cuba and farmed tilapia is certainly less of a menace than claria, the infamous 'walking mudfish' which were the stuff of ecological and folkloric nightmare. In my own experience tilapia can be fine, if it's raised in clear-ish water (can end up tasting muddy if otherwise), allowed to get reasonably big (otherwise the bone-to-flesh ratio is fiddly and frustrating for the eater) and filleted & fried. It's definitely not a 'choice' fish though.

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report

This topic has been locked by a moderator.

Pro tip
Lonely Planet
trusted partner