Tilapias as alien aquatics in Asia and the Pacific: a review. De Silva, S.S; Subasinghe, R.P.; Bartley, D.M.; Lowther, A.: FAO Fisheries Technical Paper. No. 453. Rome, FAO. 2004. 65p.
Tilapias are not native to Asia but have been a significant component of inland fisheries and aquaculture in the region for over half a century. They have been introduced into over 90 countries worldwide, with a global distribution second only to common carp. The contribution of tilapias to global aquaculture production has increased over the past three decades with production in 2002 exceeding 1.5 million tonnes with an estimated value of US$1.8 billion.