Algeria : Spreading Tilapia Fish Farming The National Office aquaculture Production Development (ONDPA) and executives of the Egyptian Fisheries Authority reached an agreement for the transportation of a second load of Tilapia to Algeria. This decision was taken following the first successful experience made by Algeria in Tilapia fish farming. The second load wich is estimated at 1.5 tone made up of big fish designed for alevins populating will be delivered to naturally grow in fresh water ( dams, basins, aquatic spaces) before the shifting to an increased artificial populating for this fish. Evaluating the first experience of Tilapia in Algeria, launched on 2001 thanks to a donation of (1.5 tone of fish) offered to Algeria by the Egyptian government as part of the joint commission recommendations which met last February 2001 in Algiers, ONDPA president, Mr Zoubir Farisi, has stated that the algerian experience was a success. These fish have been living in the warm waters of the Nil River since millenniums, and stood up to the cold atmosphere in Algeria, especially in the northern region. Following the great success of this first experience ONDPA plans to enter the second phase of its project which is the artificial culture the operation requires the contribution of the private sector for the creation of special farms for Tilapia using modern strategies. To this end, consultations are underway between the Algerian authorities in charge of fisheries and the Egyptian part to send teams for training and supervising promoters and the creation, by end 2004, of a joint design office in charge of making a feasibility studiy on aquaculture in fresh waters. ONDPA senior executive expressed the hope that Tilapia would be imported and sold in Algeria, and the creation, by private promoters, of some 30 aquaculture farms for Tilapia culture, mainly that the state has adopted a national program to encourage aquaculture.