Impacts of tilapia culture on the environment and human health

Tilapias are the most well-known invasive fish in the world, impacting natural ecosystems, due to their high reproductive rate, omnivorous nature and high resistance to environmental conditions, pollution and disease and become serious competitors for native species. On the other hand, these fish are relatively cheap and delicious which make them very popular among fish breeders, due to their low cost. Based on scientific research, there are concerns about the fat content of these fish. Tilapia has much less omega-3 fatty acids and more omega-6s than other fish, which can cause heart disease, cancer and other chronic problems. While many native fish and some farmed fish, such as trout, die in contaminated water, tilapia can survive and even breed in contaminated water, resulting in absorption and bioaccumulation of contaminants into the fish body, which can be transmited to humans. In general, many experts believe that the consumption and breeding of tilapias are harmful to human health and aquatic ecosystems.Therefore,, farming of tilapia in the country has no economic or environmental justification