FAQs

We raise Oreochromis niloticus (Nile tilapia).

Unlike many other tilapia, Regal Springs® tilapia are all natural and responsibly raised ‘from hatch to harvest’.

Our fish are reared in pristine freshwater lakes in Honduras, Mexico, and Indonesia for their superior water quality and ecological standards. Spacious floating nets allow our tilapia to swim against lake currents, just like in the wild. As a result, our tilapia have a naturally sweet, clean flavor and hearty texture.

Our commitment to quality also ensures our tilapia are healthy and free from chemicals and additives.

Tilapia is a healthy, gluten-free protein choice for a balanced diet.

The American Heart Association and most health bodies, such as the World Health Organisation and the British National Health Service, recommend eating fish at least twice a week as part of a healthy diet.

Tilapia is high in protein while low in calories, fat and carbohydrates. Additionally, it’s rich in vitamin B12, niacin, selenium, phosphorous and magnesium. Omega-3 levels in tilapia match other popular white fish species, including cod, catfish and mahi-mahi.

It’s important to note that the fat content in tilapia is directly connected to what the fish are fed; Regal Springs® controls the feed and uses a primarily plant-based diet, meaning our fish are very lean.

Regal Springs® tilapia are incredibly versatile and can be prepared in a variety of ways: grilling, broiling, baking, pan-searing, or frying. The options are endless! Tilapia also works well in raw preparations like ceviche, which uses the acid in citrus fruits to “cook” the fish.

The mild taste and hearty texture of tilapia make it a great substitute for other mild-tasting proteins like poultry, tofu and other white fish. Tilapia flesh is also firmer than that of many other white fish, so it’s particularly suitable for soups, stews, and curries, as it doesn’t break up during prolonged cooking.

Responsible and sustainable fish farming means operating without causing harm to the environment, exhausting natural resources, or exploiting local workers and communities.

Taking good care of the lake water and the land surrounding where we farm is essential. Regal Springs® works hard to ensure all our farms are well-managed, minimize any adverse environmental impacts, and protect workers’ rights and local communities.

The term “responsibly raised” is critically important when discussing farmed fish, as it clearly indicates that they are reared in healthy and hygienic conditions. Not all tilapia fish farms conform to such standards, whereas those designated as responsible raise their fish according to externally monitored stringent rules and regulations, governing both environmental impact and humane treatment of the fish. As such, you can rest assured that when you choose to buy these fish, you’re purchasing a quality product that wasn’t raised at the expense of the surrounding ecosystem. 

Fish welfare is a priority for us. We actively manage the health of our tilapia and have on-site veterinarians.

Our detailed fish health management plan includes training all relevant staff to monitor tilapia health and take immediate action if they see any signs of stress or disease.

We focus on keeping our tilapia healthy by not overcrowding our floating fish nets, which we site in the best possible locations. Most importantly, we feed our tilapia regularly on a nutritionally controlled, mainly vegetable diet. All these factors help to prevent the incidence and spread of disease and keep our fish healthy.

We also collaborate with NGOs and technology partners to introduce improvements in our farming processes to ensure a high standard of fish welfare.

“Blue foods” are seafood such as fish, shellfish, or algae caught at sea or from aquaculture. Blue foods are highly diverse, with over 2,500 species, and play a central role in food security.

Blue foods are an important source of protein but are also rich in nutrients such as zinc, iron, vitamins A and B12, and omega-3s. These foods have also been identified by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN) as a key resource in its mission to defeat hunger and achieve sustainable development goals.

A key body promoting blue foods is the Blue Food Partnership’s sustainable aquaculture working group, led by Friends of Ocean Action. Regal Springs® has become a member of this partnership, which aims to harness the vast potential of sustainable aquaculture to help meet the nutritional needs of our fast-growing population in a way that fights climate change and works towards zero hunger.

Fillets or loins make up about one-third of the fish. What remains after filleting — the fish frame, innards, skin, and scales — is also valuable and little is wasted, especially as we adopt a “whole fish” or “zero waste” approach.

These parts are sustainably converted into various by-products. As a result, there’s virtually no fish waste left after processing.

Since 1991, Regal Springs® has operated its own hatcheries, which nurture the fish through their early life cycle: starting from tiny eggs (known as ‘spawn’) to larva, then to fingerling (as the name implies, a small fish the size of a human finger), and finally onto juvenile fish. These are then ready to be transferred into the fish pens in deep, oxygen-rich lake waters.

The juvenile fish in our hatcheries need carefully controlled conditions, nutritious feed, oxygen-rich warm water, and constant monitoring of their health and welfare.

Selecting the right breeding stock is also critical in rearing healthy, productive fish. We have further developed our breeding expertise by partnering with Benchmark Genetics to apply the most modern techniques for selecting the optimal fish stock.

While our tilapia are not certified as organic, they’re raised as naturally as possible. We don’t use any chemicals or additives, relying instead on the quality of our deep-water lakes and the unspoiled lakeside environment to support the growth of our tilapia.

Our tilapia are not genetically modified and don’t come from GMO stock.

Tilapia are omnivorous by nature but prefer plankton and vegetable food sources.

Our tilapia are fed exclusively on a high-quality, plant-based diet. This ensures our tilapia have fresh-tasting ivory-white meat with a firm but flaky texture. Our proprietary feed recipe features a blend of plant-based ingredients, including corn, soybeans, premium grains, cassava, and rapeseed, with vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.

While predominantly plant-based, our feed does contain a minimal amount of animal protein (less than 5%), mainly marine raw materials like fishmeal and fish oil. We work with feed producers to ensure our feed is sourced responsibly and that feed manufacturers have action plans in place to increase the sustainability of the feed we use.

Our proprietary plant-based feed recipe is produced both in Honduras and Indonesia, where we own and operate our own feed mills. However, we mostly partner with trusted third-party suppliers to produce our proprietary feed for all our facilities. We strive to source responsibly produced feed and work with feed suppliers to ensure ingredients come exclusively from so-called ‘conversion-free’ sources (i.e., sources that aren’t involved with deforestation or degrading natural habitats).

Yes, our tilapia are safe for pregnant and nursing mothers.

By farming in pristine lakes using floating nets, controlling the feed, and conducting extensive on-site water testing, we can ensure our fish aren’t exposed to contaminants like mercury, which is more commonly associated with sharks, swordfish, or marlin. As a result, Regal Springs® tilapia are safe for all consumers, including young children and pregnant and nursing women.