Description

Tilapia is one of the most popular fish in developing country aquaculture. Tilapia are prolific breeders and tend to overpopulate ponds, leading to a stunting in growth and reduction of profitability in markets. All male populations grow more quickly and produce larger, more uniformly sized and profitable fish for farmers. Farmers use the steroid methyltestosterone (MT) in order to turn young tilapia into males, but MT residue does not naturally degrade and disposal is a growing problem. CRSP researcher Dr. Wilfrido Contreras-Sanchez , working at the Autonomous Juarez University of Tabasco, in Mexico has developed a cost-effective solution to this issue, using bio-filters covered in MT eating bacteria to remove MT residue from hatchery water.