why are tilapia illegal?

Answer 1

Because they are invasive and can destroy a foreign eco-system.

Answer 2

Firstly it depends which country you're from. I know that theyre illegal in some countries because they were originally introduced as food fish in the local waters, but they started breeding too prolifically and they are also really aggressive and this led to them driving the other important food species away.
This led to a major problem and now they are banned in some countries. Its rubbish to say that they are toxic. They are not toxic and have good nutritionial value.

Answer 3

They ravage and destroy the natural fish/lake/river where they are introduced. They are illegal in certain parts of the US, and have taken over many lakes and rivers where people dumped them when they got too big for their tank. I know for a fact they are illegal in florida, but I do not know about other states. They have a much stronger jaw structure than the local bass and sunfish. So, when they lock jaws with a bass in a fight for territory they rip his mouth up. The local fish are eventually squeezed out.

Answer 4

tilapia are illegal because they are a toxic fish that spawn in the millions and consume all available food and in turn destroys the ego system and then move on to start the total destruction again we have tilapia fishing comps here to try to reduce the numbers it does not work they are still there and spawn to ensure that they can continue there path of destruction once there in you will not get rid of them
OOPS SORRY POOR CHOICE OF WORDS THEY ARE NOXIOUS NOT TOXIC ACCORDING TO THE QUEENSLAND EPA

Answer 5

They're not illegal where I live. They're an invasive species though. They can throw off a whole ecosystem if they're introduced by disturbing the food chain's natural balance.

Answer 6

what country are you now? maybe the country that you are living in does not allow the "tilapia",but i never heard of it being illegal.....,is it?

Answer 7

illegal for what? or where?

tilapia is a very delectable fish --- its a crime to deprive you of its succulent taste!!

Answer 8

Because they swam across the border without permission.

Answer 9

We've got them in lakes here in my city... and folks catch 'em and eat 'em. Even serve 'em up in restaturants. Where are they illegal?

Answer 10

Tilapia have characteristics that allow them to easily establish in new areas and become dominant at the expense of native fish populations. These characteristics include simple food requirements, flexible habitat preferences and highly efficient breeding strategies.

Tilapia can dominate local fish communities, displacing local species. They may also have an effect on native fish through aggressive behaviour and competition for food and space. They are also known to occasionally prey on the eggs and fry of other fish.

Tilapia are capable of colonising degraded habitats in which other animals cannot survive. They may also contribute to habitat degradation, with nest building by Mozambique mouthbrooder males having the potential to damage aquatic vegetation and lead to increased turbidity.

Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus, Tilapia mariae and Tilapia zilii) have been listed as Class 3 noxious fish in all NSW waters under the Fisheries Management Act 1994. It is now illegal to possess, buy or sell tilapia in NSW without a permit, and heavy penalties of up to $11,000 apply. In addition, NSW Fisheries has the power to seize and destroy the fish or require their destruction.

NSW Fisheries will seek compliance with the noxious species regulations for tilapia through inspections of aquarium shops and fish shipments, and through public education.

NSW Fisheries is also monitoring fish populations in coastal and inland rivers in NSW. If any populations of tilapia are discovered they will be monitored and, where possible, action taken to control or remove them.

Remember that it is illegal to possess, buy or sell any of these three fish species, and heavy penalties apply.

Be on the lookout for new species in your local waterways.

If you find any fish that you think might be tilapia or another species not native to the area, freeze the fish whole and contact your local NSW Fisheries office or the Threatened Species and Biodiversity Unit (see below).

Many other aquarium fish can also cause problems if they are released into the wild. Make sure you give any unwanted aquarium fish to friends or a petshop rather than letting them go in the wild (Note: it is illegal to release live fish into NSW waterways without a permit, and heavy penalties apply).

If you are involved in fish stockings, obtain a fish stocking permit from NSW Fisheries before buying fish for restocking, and buy fingerlings from local suppliers rather than outside the region or interstate, to minimise the chances of introducing other species not native to your area.

Here are the three:
Mozambique mouthbrooder
Of all the tilapia species the Mozambique mouthbrooder has the most widely distributed feral populations in Australia.

Mozambique mouthbrooders can grow to more than 36 cm and live for up to 13 years. However, size varies according to environmental conditions, with poor conditions sometimes producing many small (but still mature) fish.

They become sexually mature in 3 years when around 15 cm, although stunted fish can breed at 9 cm. Breeding males become very dark (almost black) with red edging on their fins. They have a highly successful breeding strategy (up to 1200 eggs a year, in up to 4 broods) and low juvenile mortality. After spawning the female takes the eggs in her mouth, where they hatch. The fry remain in their mother's mouth for up to 14 days before they are released, and may remain near the mother and re-enter the mouth when threatened until about 3 weeks old, thus receiving protection from predators.

Mozambique mouthbrooders are hardy fish, tolerating a wide range of temperatures and surviving in high salinities and low dissolved oxygen. Consequently they have colonised a variety of habitats including reservoirs, lakes, ponds, rivers, creeks, drains, swamps and tidal creeks. They usually live in mud bottomed, well-vegetated areas, and are often seen in loose aggregations or small schools.

Black mangrove cichlid
Black mangrove cichlids grow to around 25 to 30 cm. They become sexually mature at about 10 to 15 cm. They prefer to spawn on hard substrates (such as logs) which they clean beforehand. They do not build nests and are not mouthbrooders, but the eggs and fry are carefully guarded by one or both parents. The parents continue to care for the young until they are about 2-3 cm.

Black mangrove cichlids are less tolerant of cooler temperatures than Mozambique mouthbrooders.

Their diet consists mainly of plants although it appears they will also eat animals when there is limited aquatic vegetation available.

Redbelly tilapia
This is another species considered to be a potential threat if introduced into NSW waterways. They are normally found in sheltered waters over rock, sand or mud, including shallow pools, lagoons and the margins of rivers.