——Preface·]—
["Unauthorized handling, offenders will be prosecuted"].
In the colorful seafood grand view,There is a fish that is nicknamed "garbage fish" in our country, but it has become a table delicacy in the United States.
This fish, called tilapia, is a freshwater fish native to AfricaIt was introduced to our country in the middle of the last century and is mainly used for breeding and eating.
It's also tilapia,Why is it considered an invasive species in our country, but Americans have a soft spot for it?What is the reason and story behind it?
Tilapia belongs to the order Cypriniformes and is an omnivorous fishAlgae plants, small fish and shrimp, and even organic detritum can be food for its mouth.
The common body color of tilapia is silver-gray or yellow, and some have red or black spotsAlthough the head occupies a small proportion of the body, the mouth is also smallHowever, its dorsal and caudal fins are large, allowing them to swim very quickly.
You knowMouth hatching fishIs it?This means that the fish will hold the fertilized eggs in their mouths when they reproduce until they hatch into small fish that are capable of moving.
Tilapia is a mouth-hatching fish, and this special way of reproduction ensures the survival rate of offspring to a large extentMoreover, they have a short reproductive cycle and a large number of eggs laid at a time, thereforeTilapia is able to increase its population rapidly in a very short period of time.
In addition to that,Tilapia's adaptability is also not to be underestimatedThey can survive in a variety of complex water quality and water temperature environments, and even in some low-salinity seawaters.
The most unexpected thing is that tilapia, in addition to breathing with gills, isThey can also be used to assist breathing, so in the case of a lack of oxygen in the water, they are able to swallow air and continue their lives.
These properties allow tilapia to be found in:Smelly ditches, sewage treatment plants, farmland irrigation canals, etcSurvive in a variety of harsh environments.
And abroad,Tilapia skin can even be used for transplantation to save patients with extensive burns.
Tilapia first appearedAfrica region,For the local population,It is an important food fish and one of the main proteins** in the human body.
Later, tilapia was introduced to other regionsIt is mainly for cultivation and consumption, and some people for ornamentation.
In 1957, our country introduced tilapia from VietnamBegan to breed in Guangdong, Hainan and other placesDue to its advantages such as fast growth, high nutritional value, and low cost of farming, tilapia has quickly become popular with farmers and consumers.
Slowly, the scale of tilapia farming has gradually expanded, and so farChina is already one of the world's largest tilapia processing and production countries, and a large part of it is exported to the United States, Europe and other places.
Tilapia in the United States is said to have been introduced at the beginning of the 21st century and is mainly farmed in the southern regionThe climate and water quality here are somewhat similar to those of native Africa, making it ideal for tilapia growth.
Although tilapia is produced in high quantities, it is not very popular on the table in our countrySome people also have a great prejudice against tilapia, thinking that it is a "garbage fish", what is the reason for this?
The main reason is that tilapia is too adaptableIndividual farming is fine, but in some cases, tilapia escapes from farms into natural watersCompete with native fish for food and space, and even prey on and kill native fish, resulting in the loss of biodiversity and the destruction of aquatic ecology.
Think about it,Large numbers of tilapia live in stinking gutters or other dirty areasIn addition to affecting people's appetite, it is also possible to carry some pathogens such as parasites, bacteria, viruses, etcThrough food or contact, some diseases are transmitted to human beings and pose a threat to human health.
In addition to this, the excrement of tilapia contains a lot of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorusIt may cause algae blooms, hypoxia and other phenomena, affecting the self-purification ability of water quality.
Unlike our country, tilapia is widely consumed in the United States and has become a popular table delicacyWhy do Americans love tilapia so much?
Americans' perception and evaluation of tilapia,Mainly from a nutritional and health point of view, not from a taste and flavor point of view.
They consider tilapia to be a low-fat, high-protein fish, andIt also has fewer fish bones, making it convenient for humans to eat and digest.
Unlike us,Americans like to cook tilapia in a simple and quick wayComplex seasonings and condiments are rarely used, and only a few are often addedSalt, lemon, etcto add some flavor to the fishConform to the eating habits and tastes of Americans.
So Americans' love for doffi is not accidental, but closely related to its nutritional value and culinary diversityIn addition, tilapia is also relatively cheap, which makes its position on the American table more and more solid.
In general,There are many reasons why tilapia has a different fate in China and the United StatesNo matter what kind of creature we treat, we should have a comprehensive and objective understanding and evaluation, not only to see its advantages and values, but also to see its shortcomings and harms. What do you think of tilapia?