Excellence In Aquaculture What "All Natural" Means In The Seafood Industry Describing one's imported frozen tilapia as "toxin-free" appears to be the latest trend among some fish suppliers these days. But don't believe the hype - at least as far as this type of tilapia being "new". A handful of companies have been providing an all-natural 100% chemical-free tilapia product for years. What exactly does it mean to be "toxin-free" or even "all-natural" anyway? Well, it al begins with how the tilapia are bred at the start. All-natural tilapia embryos receive no DNA injections, genetic manipulation meant to produce a robust, faster-growing breed with highly desirable traits. Engineering of this sort raises many concerns both inside and out side the industry, but that doesn't stop most seafood producers from doing it. Describing one's fish as all-natural also means that no growth hormones have ever been used. These hormones, designed to dramatically increase the growth rate of the tilapia, enable the fish to be brought to market more quickly. But all-natural tilapia producers, unsure of the long-term effects of growth hormones, prefer to take a prudent "no-tilapia-before-its-tie" approach to fish farming. Concerns over the safety and environmental effects far outweigh any economic upside to having a more productive farm, they reason. And being able to market one's fish as "all-natural" or "toxin-free" also has a lot to do with creating ponds that are conducive to raising a disease-free fish. A healthy start is growing fish in sand-bottom ponds that receive a constant supply of fresh water, as well as new sand every harvest. This regimen removes any leftover waste and prevents harmful agents from taking hold. In an ultra-clean environment without any biological pollution, fish remain disease-free form egg to maturity. Creating an ideal environment naturally is key to being able to sell a product that's worthy of the all-natural label. If the producer takes the extra, expensive steps upfront, there's no need for artificial treatments, additives, or antibiotics later, whether it's to treat, prevent or control bacterial infection, or to promote healthier fish reproduction. Steps also have to be taken to keep the fish insulated from disease or fungi (and the resulting treatment) associated with other species, as was the case recently with Chinese farms that used the same ponds to first raise eel, then later, tilapia. It also helps if the tilapia farm is located far away from potential sources of environmental or industrial pollution. Minimizing the tilapia's exposure to any commercial PCB's, for instance, goes far toward culturing an all-natural product. There should also be frequent testing of the water and fish for the presence of heavy metal contaminants (such as mercury) and industrial dioxins. Respectable tilapia producers also pay special attention to the feed eaten by the tilapia, sourcing only high-quality grains from local growers who are regularly inspected for the use of pesticides and other chemicals. Granted, these are a lot of steps that a tilapia producer must take to market its fish as "toxin-free" or "all-natural". But it's a wise strategy if the intent is to market to the growing number of health-conscious consumers. It also instills more consumer confidence in the tilapia aquaculture industry as a whole.