Aqrraculrure. i36 i i44;) 201-226 Else&r Science Publishers B.V.. Amsterdam 201 zyxwv Review zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfed Tilapia culture in saline waters: a review Arul V. Suresh and C. Kwei Lm Asian Imtifute zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYX of Tmhno/ogy. Bnngko~, Thorlnnd (Accepted II March 1992) ABSTRACT Surerh. A.V. and Lin, C.K., 1992. Tilapia culture in saline waters: a review. Aquaculrure, 106: ZOI- 126. This review attempts to xaluate the potential nftilapia culture in saline waters and in the process employs biological, economic and environmental considerationo in the analytical framework. Biolog- ical potential of many commercially ,mpor.an, tilapne spewa IS promsing. They tolerate, grow and even reproduce in saline waters, although this capacity is somewhat offset under high salinity condi- tions. Particularly lhey are sensitive to bandbng and succumb to secondary infecr;ons in seawater salinities. However. it is technically feasible to produce seed bv clutch-removal management tech- zyxw nique in salinities less than 18 pp, &d to grow the risk in 35 pp,: A manse of 10-20 pp, ii optimal for growth. Optimal dietary protein content is 20-2596 and feeding rates close to satiation levels lead to the hi&s, growth. Various production systems ranging from earthen ponds to intensively stocked tanks, raceways and cages have been tested for grow-out; chotce of a particular system would largely depend on the economics ofuater use. Production technology needs to be verified in severa! locations ?nd, intheligh, ofthe fan that tilaptageteasily establishedas ieral populationsin naturalecosystems, extreme caution should be exercised in the ictroduction of fish into those culture systems conrectrd 10 estuaries and mangrows. INTRODUCTION Increasing demands on the use of freshwater for agricultural, industriai and domestic purposes progressively limit freshwater-based aquaculture, partic- ularly in the arid and rainfed regions in the tropics. The eflicient uses of ma- rine and brackishwater environments for aquaculture becomes a vital alter- native. However, the number of tinfish species domesticated in such -- Correwondence to: Dr. C.K. Lin, Diviston of Agricultural and Food Engineering, Asian insti- tute of Technology, GPO Box 2754. Bangkok 10501, Thailand. 0044.8486/92/%05.00 0 1992 Elsevier Science Publishers B.V. All rights rssewed.