Product Type: Fisheries – tilapia
Stage: Production & Harvesting
Problem: Fish death and damage from harvest-induced stress in farmed tilapia
Solution: Pre-harvest preparation, implementation of aerators, producer training and management

1. Pre-Harvest Preparation: Feeding of tilapia is suspended about 24 hours before harvest. Before harvest, half of the aerators and cables and shifted away and a bamboo pole is used to imitate water surface disturbance to be performed by the purse seine net. This accustoms fish to the action and drives physical activity among the tilapia, biologically reducing harvest stress.
   
2. Harvesting procedure: Two layers of purse seine netting are used to reduce fish stress by gathering all fish in one round of collection. Nets are placed by raft and pulled in by hand.
    
3. Training and management: Purse seine nets used to harvest farmed tilapia need to be formed into a specific rectangular holding area. This task needs to be completed efficiently to reduce damage to fish, avoid escapes, and minimize stress. Training and management for coordination among harvest teams is needed to maintain good practices.
    
4. Harvesting procedure: Aerators should be used to provide sufficient oxygen for tilapia in the holding area formed during the harvesting process. Oxygen control is critical due to high-density of fish in a constricted space. This prevents fish death and reduces physical stress.
    
5. Transfer of fish for transport: Quick movement of tilapia from holding area to live fish truck for transport is beneficial to reducing fish stress in the constricted holding area. The key tools for this task are plastic buckets with holes and a fish truck with crane. Reducing holding area time reduces mortality/fish loss from stress and crowding during the harvesting process.