Open AccessPreliminary Investigations into the Socio‐Economic Feasibility of Saltwater Cage Culture of Florida Red Tilapia in Haiti
Author(s) -
Brass Jane L.,
Rust Michael B.,
Olla Bori L.,
Wicklund Robert I.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
journal of the world aquaculture society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.655
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1749-7345
pISSN - 0893-8849
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-7345.1990.tb01022.x
Subject(s) - tilapia , mariculture , context (archaeology) , fishery , biology , production (economics) , aquaculture , fish <actinopterygii> , economics , paleontology , macroeconomics
The primary objective of this study was to investigate the socio‐economic feasibility of saltwater cage culture of Florida red tilapia as a new production activity in Haiti. Market outlets and potential prices for saltwater‐reared red tilapia in Haiti were examined. Availability and prices of inputs to production were considered. Although this information was collected in the context of Haiti, it is relevant to other developing countries when assessing the potential for a mariculture industry. Two types of market outlets for saltwater‐reared red tilapia were found to exist in Haiti. The predominant rural market sector treated red tilapia as a low‐value species and paid an average price ($0.90/kg roundweight) similar to that for freshwater black tilapia. Urban specialty markets treated red tilapia as a premium quality fish and paid an average price ($2.20/kg cleaned) equal to that for snapper and grouper. Comparison of production costs to potential market prices indicates that saltwater cage culture of tilapia is not economically feasible on an artisanal scale and is a high financial risk on a commercial scale. Break‐even prices are higher than prices in the large rural market sector. No data exists to indicate sufficient demand in the smaller urban specialty market sector or export markets.