GENETIC DIVERSITY OF TILAPIA AND AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT IN COTE-DIVOIRE AND NIGER

The first tilapias used in aquaculture in Africa were Tilapia rendalli and Oreochromis mossambicus, species which proved to be of little aqu acultural value. Now interest is focusing on a small number of more pr oductive species, mainly O. niloticus and O. aureus. The choice of str ains has been often fortuitous, conditioned by proximity of supply or based on transfers from countries or stations where research had been accomplished. in this framework, the enhancement of research dealing w ith local species or populations for aquaculture as well as monitoring of the genetic characteristics of the main cultivated populations app ears to be essential. Rational management of broodstock is the recent result of biochemical techniques for evaluating genetic variability an d evolution. This paper analyzes approaches to the management of genet ic variability using examples from research and development operations in the Cote d'lvoire and Niger. Orientations are proposed concerning the conservation and management of genetic resources in relation to th e organization of aquaculture development in Africa.