APT plans tilapia farming in Dominican Republic

Israel based Aquaculture Production Technology Ltd. (APT), which has aquaculture operations in Central America, is considering setting up business in the Dominican Republic.

APT has operations in Honduras, El Salvador and Belize that export fresh fillets to the US and European markets.

The Israeli company identified unique conditions in the Dominican Republic for the development of advanced, environmentally and socially sustainable aquaculture. The Dominican government has built 34 dams and irrigation systems and channels to assure the regulation of the flow of rivers, the generation of hydroelectric power and irrigation.

Company executives estimate that the Dominican industry can produce about 50,000 tonnes within a few years, with an initial export value of US$80-US$150 million.

The idea is that several producer companies in diverse areas of the Dominican Republic be in charge of the production of tilapias, using the dams and irrigated areas with the technology of aquaculture integrated with irrigation.

To advance in this project, APT representative Frank Juan Carlos Ayala estimates that the industry will need financing for the development of production systems, fish processing plants, plants for by-product availing, food factories, auxiliary entities of commercialisation, training and other systems.

APT's main business is technology transfer in the fields of fish and shrimp aquaculture development. The company specialises in establishing fish farming facilities for fish fillet production - mainly of tilapia - fresh, organic, boneless and skinless, to export to the EU and the US.