Have you read that tale recently about the five loaves and the two small fishes? The same small pair of fish known as tilapia have fed more than 5,000 since first written about in that ancient religious text, and if the multinational, Tesco, has its way, they will be consumed by millions in the next millennium.
The fish in question are tilapia (Tilapia niloticus), a diverse group of more than 100 species which has been farmed for thousands of years since first recorded in the Sea of Galilee. Now the most widely grown finfish in the world, it is reared in fresh water and has very superior growth rates. Trials in the Philippines have produced a saline version. Recently, a major US aquaculture marketing company has targeted Europe, and Tesco UK has taken up the challenge.
Also known as St Peter's Fish, tilapia were regarded as sacred by the Egyptians as they were thought to symbolise the hope of reincarnation. The fish originated in Africa and parts of the Middle East, and fossils dating back some 18 million years have been found near Lake Victoria. The 100 species are divided into four genera: Oreochromis, Tilapia, Sarotherodon and Danakila.
This classification is based on breeding behaviour at the egg-laying stage, that is, whether the particular species is a maternal mouthbrooder, paternal mouthbrooder or substrate spawner.
Serious farming of tilapia began in about 1920 in warm-water conditions, and the most popular is the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), which is a very versatile, herbivorous feeder suited to low-technology farming systems in developing countries. In the trade, the nickname is "aquatic chicken".
China is by far the largest producer, followed by the Philippines, but the fish is also grown in the Americas and the Caribbean under various systems, ranging from simple rural ponds, with little or no input, to intensive clearwater systems.
The high-salinity version has been developed in the Philippines after two years. Sold under the brand name Rain Forest Tilapia in the US, it is regarded as an ideal substitute for the overfished cod. Hence the interest shown by Tesco UK, which has begun selling tilapia fillets.
Most of the European supply is imported from Zimbabwe, according to a recent report in Sea- food International, but there is some interest in farming it in Europe. As the optimum temperature must be 28C, all production must be heat-controlled, but it could become a valuable byproduct of industrial waste hot water.
Tesco Ireland has no immediate plans to try the fillets on the Irish market as it has found that consumer interest in exotic fish here is poor.
"However, we are always looking for new ways to satisfy customers," a spokeswoman for Tesco said. "If we get the demand, we will certainly respond to it."