Tilapia nests

Tilapia in a fishpond at Pu'uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park on the Big Island, Hawaii

When I was down at Pu’uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park recently, I noticed, possibly for the first time, these circles in some of the fishponds. They are the nests of male Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus). The males hope to entice a female into laying her eggs in their nest, after which the male will fertilize them.

Tilapia were introduced to the fishponds to control mosquitoes, but like many such ideas, they have proved detrimental to the well-being of native species. Currently, efforts are underway to remove them from the ponds.

For more information about Pu’uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park, visit https://www.nps.gov/puho/index.htm

Tilapia in a fishpond at Pu'uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park on the Big Island, Hawaii

12 thoughts on “Tilapia nests

  1. kzmcb's avatarkzmcb

    Well, they are attractive fish, unlike the carp introduced here. We’re still trying to figure out how to eradicate them. But then, nearly all of our livestock was introduced and has caused widespread damage. I can’t see that changing and wonder what our national diet might have been if we’d made different decisions during European settlement. Perhaps the kangaroo would be extinct.

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