Tilapia: Job-Creating Fish or a Threat to Iran's Aquatic Ecosystems?

Tilapia: A fish with high economic potential whose possible spread into the wild has raised concerns about biodiversity and Iran's native species.

Ambassador Arjan - Community Group: Imagine a fish that grows today in a breeding farm, in a controlled environment, and reaches people's table, tomorrow opens its head in a river that is the habitat of dozens of native species; Species that have adapted to the conditions of the same ecosystem over the years, and in such conditions, it is no longer just a matter of producing a few tons of fish or creating job opportunities; The balance of an ecosystem and the fate of the country's genetic reserves are also discussed.

This is the point that has made tilapia one of the most controversial topics in Iran's aquaculture; On the one hand, this fish is attracting the attention of producers due to its relatively fast growth, ability to adapt to different conditions, and the possibility of breeding in brackish and brackish waters.

Now the main question is: how can we use the economic capacities of an aquatic species, without ignoring the risk of its spread in nature and damage to native species?

four provinces; The current frontier of tilapia farming

Tilapia is the name of a group of tropical fish whose different species have a significant place in the world's aquaculture industry. Appropriate growth, the ability to breed densely, a relatively diverse diet and adaptability to different breeding conditions have made this fish an attractive option for producers.

The importance of tilapia for countries that face limited fresh water resources is also not small; Because some of its species are capable of breeding in brackish and brackish waters and can be used in areas where the conditions for breeding many other species are not suitable.

However, this same ability to adapt can become a cause for concern if the fish leave the breeding environment. The establishment of tilapia in rivers, lagoons, lakes or dam reservoirs may, depending on the species and environmental conditions, increase competition with native fish and affect the structure of aquatic communities.

According to Hamid Zohrabi, Deputy Director of Natural Environment and Biodiversity of the Environmental Protection Organization, the reproduction and breeding of this fish in Iran is limited to four provinces of Qom, Yazd, South Khorasan and Semnan, and the Environmental Protection Organization emphasizes on complying with legal requirements and preventing the expansion of activities in other provinces.

Describing the position of this organization, Zahrabi has stated that the main concern is not only the possibility of fish escaping from farms; Rather, the more important issue is to ensure the ability of producers and the fisheries organization to produce single-sex male tilapia and reduce the possibility of its unwanted reproduction in natural environments.

Breeding in closed environments is one of the solutions proposed to use the economic capacity of tilapia. The argument of the supporters is that by controlling the breeding conditions and limiting the connection of farms with the outside environment, the possibility of fish entering natural water resources can be reduced.

But from the point of view of the Environmental Protection Organization, the closure of a breeding unit alone is not enough to solve the concerns. The occurrence of accidents, equipment failure or any other factor that leads to the exit of fish from the controlled environment can provide the basis for the entry of this species into nature; In case of its establishment and expansion, it may be very difficult or even impossible to control and eliminate the created populations.

Referring to the biological characteristics of tilapia, the Deputy of Natural Environment and Biodiversity of the Environmental Protection Organization has described this species as having the power of adaptation, reproduction and high competition. According to him, establishing this fish in natural habitats can change the structure of aquatic communities, biodiversity and ecological balance.

Zahrabi also mentioned the Tilapia risk assessment study conducted by Shahid Beheshti University and said that in this study, the risk of establishment and expansion of this species was assessed to be very high.

Accordingly, the approach of the Environmental Protection Organization is based on preventing the entry of high-risk species into nature; An approach that emphasizes the necessity of examining possible scenarios before the development of economic activity, not after the occurrence of damage.

Concern about drinking water; A scenario that cannot be ignored

Another focus of the Environmental Protection Organization's opposition to the expansion of tilapia breeding is the possibility of its entering rivers and dam reservoirs. Sources that are used in some regions of the country to provide drinking water.

Zahrabi has warned that if this fish enters water sources, it can be difficult to control its population. He also pointed out the sensitivity of tilapia to the decrease in water temperature, and considered the temperature of 12 to 14 degrees as one of the limiting factors for the survival of this species and said that the decrease in temperature in the reservoirs of the dams can lead to the widespread death of fish and the pollution of drinking water sources; According to him, examples of this have been recorded in the world.

These statements, from the point of view of the Environmental Protection Organization, highlight the necessity of evaluating all the possible consequences of the development of the cultivation of this fish; From the possibility of fish escaping from farms to entering the river network, settling in wetlands and reservoirs of dams and its possible effects on water resources.

In such a situation, the issue is not limited to the possibility of survival or reproduction of tilapia; Rather, the probability of occurrence of accidents, propagation paths and its environmental consequences should also be investigated.

In recent months, the discussion about tilapia has also been extended to the 90th Parliament Commission; The news about the approval of this commission to breed this fish followed the reaction of the Environmental Protection Organization.

In explaining this issue, Zahrabi said that in the recent meeting of the Article 90 Commission, the issue was discussed with the presence of related parties, but unlike some published news, no decision was made to agree to the development of tilapia farming in the new provinces.

According to him, due to the opposition of the Environmental Protection Organization to the establishment and development of farms for breeding this species in other provinces, it has been decided that the Environmental Protection Organization and the Fisheries Organization will work together to formulate the rules related to tilapia breeding in four licensed provinces.

The deputy of the Environmental Protection Organization has also emphasized the necessity of separating the supervisory position of the Article 90 Commission from the legal responsibilities of executive bodies. According to him, the presence and accountability of the organization in the meetings of this commission does not mean ignoring the applicable laws or abandoning its legal responsibility in protecting biodiversity.

This position shows that the main dispute is not only about the principle of tilapia production; Moreover, the permitted scope of activity, the method of controlling reproduction, the safety requirements and the responsibility of the custodians are also important issues of this dispute.

One of the arguments put forward in defense of the development of tilapia farming is the amount of production of this fish in countries like Egypt; A country where Nile tilapia is a native species.

Criticizing these types of comparisons, Zahrabi has said that the success or high volume of production of a species in its native habitat alone cannot be a suitable basis for evaluating the environmental risks of the same species in another country.

According to him, Nile tilapia is endemic in Egypt, but the conditions are different in Iran and the country has a significant variety of inland water fish. He announced the number of fish species in Iran's internal waters to be around 300 species and warned that the arrival of an invasive species could put the country's valuable genetic resources at risk.

The logic of this concern is clear: a species may be a part of the ecological structure of the region in its natural habitat, but in another environment, if it has the right conditions for survival and reproduction, it will put a new pressure on native species. Therefore, the risk assessment should be done according to the characteristics of the destination ecosystem, and the results of one country cannot be generalized to it without examining the conditions of another country.

The deputy of the Environmental Protection Organization has also said that the concern about tilapia is not limited only to the position of this organization. According to him, 150 university professors have expressed concern about the breeding of this species and the possibility of its entering the water ecosystems of the country, and the Scientific Association of Fisheries of Iran has also warned about this issue in a letter addressed to the president.

Zoharabi emphasized that in situations where there is uncertainty about the possible consequences of a decision, the executive bodies should act with caution and avoid hasty decisions.

Opposing tilapia is not opposing production

Despite the Environmental Protection Organization's opposition to the development of tilapia farming in the new provinces, Zahrabi has emphasized that this position does not mean opposition to the production, employment or development of aquaculture.

According to him, the Environmental Protection Organization welcomes the cultivation of native species as well as non-native species that do not have the risk of being invasive, to create employment and increase production; But the development of economic activity should not be at the cost of threatening biodiversity and the survival of native species.

In this context, he welcomed the recent action of the country's fisheries organization in introducing the Caspian sea bream as a breeding species and said that this species can be a more suitable option in terms of quality and production than risky non-native species.

According to Zohrabi's statements, the Environmental Protection Organization has supported this action and the National Environmental Fund has also been obliged to cooperate to grant facilities and support the prosperity of this activity.

From the point of view of the Environmental Protection Organization, this example shows the path that can be followed for the development of aquaculture; The path in which increasing production and creating job opportunities is accompanied by environmental considerations.

Today's decision determines tomorrow's costs

The case of tilapia in Iran is not a simple confrontation between production and environment; The problem is how to manage an economic capacity in a situation where the possibility of environmental consequences has also been raised.

For producers, the proper growth of this fish and the ability to grow it in various conditions can be an economic opportunity. On the other hand, for those in charge of nature conservation, the possibility of leaving breeding environments, settling in water resources and competing with native species is an issue that cannot be ignored simply by promising to control plantations.

In such a situation, scientific assessment of risk, determination of clear criteria, strict control of breeding centers and examination of the ability to produce single-sex males are among the issues that are important in making decisions about this industry; However, from the point of view of the Environmental Protection Organization, these measures do not solve the concerns related to the development of tilapia farming in new provinces.