SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE OF TILAPIA FARMING IN MEXICO

Tilapias are the 4^th largest species group by both quantity and value in global aquaculture 2017 (18 tilapia species items farmed in 127 countries/territories with 5.9 million tonnes, USD 11 billion farmgate value of total production). Tilapias are also a major international seafood commodity with nearly half million tonnes of global trade volume and USD 1.4 billion trade value in 2017. Global tilapia aquaculture production grew 11 percent annually (or 13 percent in terms of farmgate value) over the past three decades, from 0.3 million tonnes (USD 304 million) in 1987 to 5.9 million tonnes (USD 11 billion) in 2017. Aquaculture production in Mexico increased 9.3 percent annually (or 12 percent in terms of farmgate value), from 53 918 tonnes (USD 226 million) in 2000 to 243 307 tonnes (USD 847 million) in 2017. Tilapias are the 2^nd largest aquaculture species group in Mexico (next to marine shrimps and prawns), contributing to 23 percent of the country's total aquaculture tonnage in 2017. Mexico was the 12^th largest tilapia farming countries/territories in 2017 (see the chart above) with 55 358 tonnes of farmed tilapia production accounting for 0.9 percent of the world total. This paper assesses tilapia aquaculture and the value chain in Mexico by examining tilapia farming technology and practices, dissecting the tilapia value chain, evaluating the sector's social and economic performance, discussing the importance of proper governance to the sector development, and highlighting potentials, issues, constraints and challenges in the development of tilapia aquaculture in Mexico.