The National Fisheries Authority (NFA) is encouraging Jamaicans to buy and consume Tilapia for Easter, as a means of growing the sector.

Tilapia, which is a nutritious freshwater fish and a product of Jamaica’s aquaculture sector, is an alternative to captured fish from the sea. It is low in fat and a good source of protein and Omega-3 fatty acids.

Native to Africa and the Middle East, Tilapia is produced locally through fish farms.

NFA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Gavin Bellamy highlighted during a recent interview with the Jamaica Information Service that Tilapia consumption is important to the sustainability of the sector.

“We are encouraging Jamaicans to buy Tilapia. Remember it is Easter. We want Jamaicans to consume tilapia. It’s lovely, very versatile and tasty,” Bellamy said.

The NFA’s push for the increased consumption of Tilapia is also aligned with the Agriculture and Fisheries Ministry’s ‘Grow Smart, Eat Smart Campaign’, aimed at stimulating local production and consumption of food.

According to Bellamy, “the Ministry has identified that the sector that has the greatest potential for growth and development of this country is the fisheries sector. This is because we can both work on land and we can improve what we are getting from the sea in a sustainable manner. If we work together as a nation, we can have fish for perpetuity”.

Meanwhile to further protect the sustainability of the sector, the NFA will be placing greater focus on size regulations to inhibit the fishing of undersized fish. As such the NFA is urging fishers to be considerate of the size of the fish they capture on the job.