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Taiwan's tilapia farmers have been urged to shift to production of higher added value fish fillets to skirt fierce competition from their Chinese rivals. Chen Tien-shou, deputy director-general of the Fisheries Agency under the Council of Agriculture, called for Taiwan tilapia farms to increase exports of fish fillets, which are higher priced, instead of producing whole fish, which face stiff competition from China. China's mass production and low price strategy have caused the price of whole tilapia to plummet since early this year. It fell to NT$33 (US$1.03) per kg at its lowest point from NT$45 two years ago, Chen said. The pricing problem prompted the Fisheries Agency to put forth a subsidy plan in May to encourage local tilapia farms to cooperate with seafood processing factories to increase their export of skinless, boneless tilapia fillets, which can be sold for US$6.5 per kg on an FOB basis. Under the incentive programme, fish farmers are given NT$5 per kg in subsidies for their production and export inspection fees, said Chen. Because of its large size, rapid growth and palatability, Taiwan's tilapia has become the most important fish in the country's aquaculture sector, with annual exports of whole fish and fish fillets reaching from 30 000 - 40 000 mt and some 4 000 mt, respectively, according to Chen. The annual global output of tilapia is roughly 2.7 million mt, with about 1.1 million mt of that coming from China.

 

 

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