Chitin in tilapia

10/06/12

Chitin in tilapia

Q :
Anyone that can help with information about the chitin content of tilapia scales - if any?

A :

I believe there is some chitin in tilapia scales but the quantities may not be worth the effort to extract. A better source is shrimp heads from farmed and wild sources. The recovery of chitin and chitosan from farmed shrimp heads are around 17 and 25g per kg respectively from wet processing waste. There is a good and growing market for chitin with glucosamine production dominating.

Best regards,

Tom Frese
President
AquaSol, Inc.
Miami, Florida (USA)

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About me

I have strong educational background in aquaculture and finished it with study on organic shrimp farming and microsatellite DNA marker. I has experienced as a Field Manager of Brackishwater Tilapia Hatchery, Penaeid Shrimp Hatchery, Live Feed and Fish Feed Production. I had cooperated as a team member or technical assistant with Governmental Organisation and Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) related to brackishwater aquaculture rehabilitation program after tsunami disaster in Aceh, Indonesia since 2008 with FAO, WorldFish Center, Caritas Czech Republic, ACIAR and OISCA/ADB JFPR. I do non-profit aquaculture extension services, supervise farmers on local adaptive technology, active in establishment of local fish feed national program, contributes in national aquaculture magazines, and also supervise final project of bachelor degree students. My specific interest covers water quality management, practical fish feed, and larval rearing. Directorate General of Aquaculture of Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries has invited me in several occassions as a speaker in Local Fish Feed National Forum.