The National Fisheries Authority (NFA) has invited Jamaicans to experience the ‘Many Moods of Tilapia’ on the grounds of Devon House today (November 25).
The tilapia cook-off, which gets under way at 10:00 am, will showcase the best of 21 entries from 16 contestants.
Addressing a recent Jamaica Information Service Think Tank, Nadia McNeish, senior aquaculture extension officer in the Aquaculture Branch of the NFA, said the competition is part of a campaign to market tilapia to Jamaicans.
“The Many Moods of Tilapia competition encourages persons to use tilapia by cooking it in different forms. The competition will highlight the versatility of the fish,” she noted.
McNeish said judging will begin at 11:30 am.
“We’ll have judges from the Jamaica 4-H Clubs and our guest judge, Jacqui Tyson. They will be judged based on taste and presentation because they would have already been judged in the preliminary section for ease of preparation, type of dish, creativity and use of local seasonings,” she said.
The preliminary rounds ran from September 19 to October 19.
The tilapia cook-off coincides with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries ‘Eat Jamaican Day’ celebrations, which will also be held at Devon House today.
“What we are concerned about here in Jamaica is that fish is consumed three times more than it is produced.”
Nadia McNeish, senior aquaculture extension officer in the Aquaculture Branch of the NFA
In the meantime, McNeish is encouraging more Jamaicans to get into tilapia production.
“What we are concerned about here in Jamaica is that fish is consumed three times more than it is produced,” she noted.
She is urging interested persons to contact the Aquaculture Branch.
“You can visit our offices or you can call us at 876-984-9343. We have personnel with lots of expertise available to assist you in getting started,” McNeish said.
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