48 MARCH 2025 • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WAS.ORG popular seafood product. The market price of fresh tilapia in the local supermarket is around USD 5-6/kg (Figures 1 and 2). Notably, the market price of imported frozen whole fish is only USD 1-3/kg. Unlike other leading tilapia production countries selling to the export market, Saudi Arabia’s tilapia product was sold in the domestic market (Young et al. 2021). Issues of tilapia aquaculture in Saudi Arabia The tilapia aquaculture industry has faced many issues regarding the lack of high-quality broodstock, the absence of farm locations, inadequate personnel, and diseases (Young et al. 2021). Furthermore, regulations strictly manage the installation of pumping wells, so freshwater resources are also one of the critical costs for farm operations (Young and AlMoutiri, 2022). In addition, unlike mariculture, which a few mega-companies dominate, most tilapia farms are operated by small-scale farmers and scattered across the country (Young and Shaikhi, 2022). There are nine licensed mariculture companies, whereas freshwater fish farms number around 350. In the early stages, the Ministry of Environment, Water & Agriculture (MEWA) struggled to understand the operations and needs of most aquaculture farms due to a lack of guidance policies and measures, and ineffective farm management resulted in inconsistent product quality, difficulties estimating production, and difficulty preventing disease. Additionally, the MEWA had difficulty monitoring farm operations because of the enormous differences in tilapia farm operating models and facilities and their scattered distribution In furtherance of economic and rural development, tilapia (Oreochromis spp.) has been cultured in inland Saudi Arabia since the 1980s. Initially, the main aquacultured species was Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). However, due to economic development, market demand, and environmental factors, marine shrimp aquaculture started, in the 2000s, to contribute significant production. In comparison, freshwater aquaculture development has been slower (Young and AlMoutiri, 2022). In 2023, Saudi Arabia produced approximately 139,949 tons aquaculture, while mariculture production (including marine shrimp and finfish) was recorded at 92,491 tons. Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) farming has accounted for more than 70% of the total mariculture production since the 2010s. The major mariculture species in Saudi Arabia’s aquaculture industries are the Asian sea bass (Lates calcarifer), gilt-head bream (Sparus aurata), Sabaki tilapia (Oreochromis spilurus), and sobaity seabream (Sparidentex hasta) which contributed over 30,000 tons to total mariculture production in 2023. Saudi Arabia’s total tilapia aquaculture production is around 45,200 tons, and in 2023, tilapia farming accounted for almost 32% of national aquaculture production. The second highest production is North African catfish (Clarias gariepinus), which is about 1,230 tons. Therefore, tilapia is essential in the national aquaculture sector for rural development and food security (Alshaikhi et al. 2023). Tilapia farming is still widespread in Saudi Arabia because of the high demand for the local market. Although mariculture has grown, tilapia farming is still essential in the country. Tilapia is a Tilapia (Oreochromis spp.) Aquaculture in Saudi Arabia: A New Start and New Practices Benjamin C. Young, Saif Algethami, Anwer Abed Alazwari, Faris Alghamdi and Ali Al Shaikhi FIGURE 2. Live tilapia at local supermarkets. Source: Benjamin C. Young. FIGURE 1. Fresh tilapia at local supermarkets. Source: Benjamin C. Young.
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