Tilapia production in Colombia has doubled in volume over the last decade and it is now one of the main exporter countries of fresh tilapia to the US. This Strategic Partnership project was funded by NORAD (Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation) and PHARMAQ part of Zoetis and implemented best aquaculture and fish health management practices to support the continued sustainable growth of the Colombian tilapia farming sector and bring about wider societal and economic benefits. The project was led by Caritas Norway and involved key partners from the private sector, PHARMAQ AS, Zoetis Colombia, the Colombian-Norwegian Chamber of Commerce, and Piscícola Botero, one of the largest Colombian producers and exporters of tilapia.
The overall aim of the project was to increase productivity, profitability, and sustainability in the tilapia value chain in the regions of Huila and Caquetá, by using a combination training in f ish h ealth m anagement and fish vaccination, disease surveillance, adoption of vaccination, promotion of environmental sustainability, and the stimulation of business alliances between producers and buyers at local, national, and international level.
The project provided a framework for partners to cooperate and deliver agreed project outcomes, which included delivery of theoretical and practical training in fish health management, the first use of vaccin es on 7 tilapia farms in Huila, and the execution of a disease surveillance program . These outcomes and some of the wider benefits of the project will be presented and discussed.
Th e Strategic Partnership model proved to be effective at encouraging collaboration between private enterprises, public and non-governmental organizations, enabling participants to share knowledge, experiences, know-how, and expertise. The project outcomes provided measurable contributions against several of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. The project also demonstrated that the openness of Colombian tilapia farm ing industry to improving in f ish h ealth m anagement, including adoption of vaccination, adoption of technological developments and implementation of better routines in fish farms to further improve the productivity and sustainability.