In spite of good natural opportunities (more than 20,000 hectares of dam lakes surface area and interesting incentives the Tunisian freshwater fish culture both in dam lakes (North part of the country) and warm artesian water (south Tunisia) is not developing.

In order to promote the freshwater fish production, especially through restocking in dam lakes, a one day information seminar has been organized on January, 5, 2004 at KAIROUN, the historical inland town located close to the SIDI SAAD dam (up to 1,710 hectares of water surface area).
The seminar brought together researchers, fishermen, fisheries and aquaculture directorate staff, as well as APIA (the National body for the Production of the agriculture Investment) officers. Eight technical papers have been presented and discussed leading to concrete recommendations, particularly in the frames of seed production, product sanitary aspects, facilities given to the local fishermen communities cultured species (mainly Mugil cephalus, Liza ramada, Pike perch and carps).
The current dam lakes fish production is ranging around 900 MT and is expected to reach 1,500 MT by the end of the 10th developing plan in 2006.
As another inland fish culture activity it is planned to grow up Tilapia fish in the warm geothermal water in the south part of the country. Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) already introduced from Egypt with some hopeful results will be used to produce additional 500 Tons of fish.
With regard to seed production two sources are currently used, fry collection in the wild for Mullet and hatchery for Cyprinids, including the two Chinese species grass and silver carp imported from Hungary.