Tilapia has become the third most important fish in
aquaculture after
carp and
salmon; worldwide production exceeded 1,500,000 metric tons in 2002 and increases annually. Because of their high protein content, large size, rapid growth (6 to 7 months to grow to harvest size), and palatability, a number of
tilapiine cichlids—specifically, various species of
Oreochromis,
Sarotherodon, and
Tilapia—are the focus of major
aquaculture efforts.