Objective:

Propose alternatives to strengthen national food security from the production of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus.

Methodology:

An analysis of tilapia production in Mexico from 1994 to 2020; the production of tilapia fingerlings from 1985 to 2021; the trade balance of imports and exports of tilapia from 2006 to 2020 is analyzed and the national per capita consumption of fishery products from 1970 to 2020 is analyzed.

Results:

The national aquaculture production of tilapia from 1994 to 2020 presented an upward trend, with an annual average of 86,135 t, whose production oscillated between 61,516 t in 2003 and 152,840 t in 2016. In 2020, 96,977 t were produced, of which 56.6 % came from controlled systems and 43.3 % from fisheries based in cultivation in reservoirs. Production of tilapia fingerlings from 1994 to 2020 was moderately related to aquaculture production in controlled systems (r=0.50459040, p < 0.05).

Limitations:

As of 2000, the federal government significantly reduced the operation of the aquaculture centers under its responsibility, dedicated to the production of tilapia fingerlings, while as of 2006 the private sector joined this productive activity.

Conclusions:

The Nile tilapia O. niloticus constitutes a key fishing resource to strengthen national food security.