Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is the
world’s most important warm water farmed fish
species because of its large size, rapid growth and its
value as a good source of protein for human
consumption. Currently, the practice of tilapia culture
has been expanding throughout Thailand, and it has
become the biggest freshwater aquaculture fishery in
the country with a volume of 1.39 million metric tons
in 2009. In addition, the world aquaculture production
of Nile tilapia has dramatically increased from 124,000
metric tons in 1997 to 3 million metric tons in 2010