Red Tilapia (Oreochromis spp .) is the one of the most sorted after fish species in fisheries aquaculture because of its brilliant red colour, its ability to withstand high salinities and rapid growth rate. Void of the constant need to select cohorts to maintain the favorable colour, in St. Kitts & Nevis and the wider Caribbean it’s the freshwater species of choice. Our fish imports into St. Kitts & Nevis are around 250 metric tons per annum, to serve a combined population of around 54,000 people.
One thousand (1000) Tilapia fingerlings were selected and divided into two groups : Group 1: full enclosure, biological and mechanical filtration , two (2) feeding per day. Group 2: 50% shaded plastic roof, mechanical filtration, one (1) feeding per day. Feed for both groups consisted of 38% protein. The source of water for both systems was rainwater that was harvested and stored in large quantities and the source of power was a 5 k solar system. The systems were both recirculation systems and they were located on the same farm and ran for a period of 7 months.