The following is all based on tilapia in a "typical" sport fishing BOW, and NOT overwintering...
This thread personifies why so many states classify Tilapia as an "invasive"..State biologists like to look at the papers, and deduce that Tilapia compete directly with every native species in a pond's ecosystem, so they are banned without further thought and ignoring real world proof. In the pond (where annual death of tilapia is a near certainty), the paper theories dissolve and leave the paper pushers scratching their heads in bewilderment, because every species that SHOULD be displaced (on paper) thrives.
Just some of the almost countless benefits to a pond is when tilapia aerate a pond to "farm" bacteria and Macrophytes, which become a "new" food source that would not otherwise exist absent tilapia. Tilapia fry/fingerlings also become the primary prey, greatly reducing pressure on "native" prey. Tilapia primarily only consume plants and nutrients no "native" specie can (thus, they are neither a load nor consideration on the "normal" carrying capacity or BOD). Tilapia DRASTICALLY increase water quality by increasing aerated water, aerobic bacteria and by reducing the toxins, such as hydrogen sulfides formed by anaerobic bacterias.
Stockings of 100 pounds, or more, per surface acre have yet to be shown detrimental in any pond or lake I am aware of. SEPM actually suggests stocking Tilapia at 100 pounds (or more) per surface acre in trophy bass waters on their website.
The fears and worries mentioned in this thread "seem" logical, yet the way tilapia function in water, not on paper, makes the fears a non issue.
In a sport fishing pond, consider Tilapia as adding a supplemental feed program, aeration and as a nuisance plant eradication program and NOT as a "Fish". And in the same way as supplemental feed and aeration create an "unnatural" increase in a BOW's carrying capacity, so will annual use of Tilapia...after 3 years of adding tilapia, the BOW will have a far higher carrying capacity (NOT including the tilapia weight).
Extremely little scientific study has been done on tilapia in a pond setting as we use Tilapia, and that is outside of the food fish production industry. From what I have seen in ponds, Tilapia seem to be somewhat self-limiting through cannibalism, from being so territorial and aggressive toward each other....they virtually ignore other species, even when nesting. I think Bob Lusk would agree, tilapia seem to defy all the rules other fish play by.
Tilapia, in short are not a burden on a carrying capaicity in a pond, they are a missing link in our waters that bring out a ponds true carrying capacity capabilty Without adding Tilapia in the weight, and after 3 years use, probably at a level at least 2-3 times higher....all with no effort other than writing the check to cover annual stocking...
Last edited by Rainman; 10/06/12 04:48 PM.
