Methods for Producing All-Male Tilapia: Hormones, Biodegradable Tools, and Gene Editing

Nile tilapia culture faces significant challenges due to early maturation and uncontrolled reproduction, leading to stunted growth and overpopulation.

• Producing all-male populations or sterile fish is identified as a primary solution to combat overpopulation in tilapia.
• Environmental and consumer safety concerns over synthetic hormones have prompted the search for sustainable alternatives.
• Traditional methods of sex determination include manual sexing and hybridization, while hormonal treatments involve synthetic steroids and aromatase inhibitors.
• Biodegradable options such as plant extracts and animal by-products are explored as potential alternatives for hormonal treatments.
• Genome editing technologies like CRISPR-Cas9 may provide new insights into sex determination systems and strategies for tilapia culture.
• A critical evaluation of these methods is necessary to guide future research towards more sustainable aquaculture practices.

Simplified