Tilapia have such a great impact on warm-water fish culture around the world. The trial to grow tilapia in Korea first made in 1955 by introducing Java tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus into Jinhae Inland Fisheries Institute from Thailand. Then Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, probably an hybrid between O. niloticus and O. mossambicus was accidentally introduced mixed with Grass carp fry from Taiwan. Because of intolerance to cold, tilapia culture is limited only proper designed green house system (closed recirculating system) in Korea. The production may reach several hundreds metric tons annually however, no accurate statistics are available because of many small rearing units which sell out their product locally or consumed at their own restaurant.  The production of tilapia as a public statistics is about 600 ton in 2001, but the author's assumption is 1,000 metric tons in same year.

Nile tilapia,  Oreochromis niloticus

Rearing system for Nile tilapia,  Oreochromis niloticus