Tilapia

• The Nile’s two main tributaries, the Blue Nile and the White Nile, come together in Sudan’s capital city, Khartoum.
• The Nile is not immune to the same pollutants that affect rivers all over the world.
• To address this gap, I conducted a study to assess the presence of microplastics in the River Nile in Khartoum.
• My students and I tested for the presence of microplastics in Nile tilapia.
• This shows that the River Nile is contaminated with microplastics that can be consumed or absorbed in various ways by the tilapia and other aquatic organisms.

Our sample

• We visited the Al-Mawrada fish market in the Omdurman area, which is also alongside the Nile.
• The individual tracts were treated so they would digest any organic matter they contained without interfering with the analysis of microplastics.
• Read more:
  Fish in a major South African river are full of microplastics

Shape, size and colour

• The most common were very small (less than 1mm), fibrous – they appear slender and elongated – and coloured (dyed).
• These characteristics make sense because of how fish and other aquatic organisms feed.
• Read more:
  Lagos beaches have a microplastic pollution problem

  Nile tilapia are also more likely to consume particles that are within a similar size range as their natural prey, as well as the same shape and colour.

• Their small size also makes it easier for them to move into organs like the liver.

Pollution sources

• For starters, 65% of plastic waste in Khartoum is disposed of in open dumps.
• That means untreated effluent from domestic, industrial and agricultural activities is another probable source of microplastic pollution.
• However, waste disposal and collection practices are sorely lacking, so plastic litter from these leisure activities leaks into the river.

No easy fix

• Tackling microplastic pollution is not easy.
• It will require technological advances, as well as the collective efforts of consumers, producers, governments and the scientific community.
• Governments must enforce waste management regulations and improve waste management practices, as well as helping to improve public awareness.

The project was funded by the Royal Society – UK.

• TEL AVIV, Israel, Dec. 5, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- EFISHient Protein, a pioneering B2B food-tech company leading the cultured white fish industry, has achieved a breakthrough by successfully developing its first prototype of a sustainable layered Tilapia fillet.
• This development represents a significant leap forward in the company's capability to produce a diverse range of sustainable white fish species.
• The success of the initial prototype, resembling the texture and structure of a tilapia fish fillet, marks a notable stride in expediting the large-scale production of various sustainable white fish species.
• Dana Levin, CEO at EFISHient Protein, added, "We are thrilled to mark another significant step toward establishing EFISHient Protein as a global leader in the cultivated fish industry.

• The demand for sustainable and ethically sourced fishmeal is rising, with consumers willing to pay extra for such products.
• Norway, the fastest growing country in the global fishmeal market, benefits from a robust aquaculture industry and abundant fish resources.
• Seafood demand increases and concerns over depleting wild fish stocks rise, the global fishmeal market expands alongside the growth of sustainable aquaculture practices
  By end-users, the global fishmeal market is categorized into Aquaculture, Pigs, Poultry, and Others.
• So, the global aquaculture industry is expected to continue expanding, driving the demand for fishmeal, and positively impacting the global fishmeal market.

• Mountain Valley MD Holdings Inc. (the “Company” or “MVMD”) (CSE: MVMD) (OTCQB: MVMDF) (FRA: 20MP) is pleased to provide a business update and details of its current progress.
• “The MVMD team and our extensive network of partners has been making significant progress on our commercialization objectives,” stated Dennis Hancock, President & CEO of Mountain Valley MD.
• MVMD is currently conducting business development activity in Mexico, Central America, South America, and the United States of America.
• The initial business development and Agrarius product registration processes are focused on Colombia, Brazil, Uruguay, Panama and Mexico.