Fund Tools for Diagnosis, Data collection on Jamaican Tilapia farms - Youth in Aquaculture Jamaica

Save Jamaica’s Tilapia Farms — Fund Youth in Aquaculture Science

Between June to December 2025, tilapia farms across Jamaica experienced alarming mass fish mortalities and rising disease outbreaks. Farmers suspect prolonged high water temperatures linked to climate change as a major cause. These stress conditions were followed by Hurricane Melissa, creating extreme environmental fluctuations that farms have struggled to recover from.

The situation is critical. There are currently no aquatic animal health services available to fish farmers, and many producers lack the technical knowledge and diagnostic support needed to respond to disease outbreaks or climate-related stress. Without data, trained personnel, and proper equipment, farmers cannot identify causes, manage risks, or protect their livelihoods.

This is where the Youth in Aquaculture NextGen Aquaculture program steps in.

Led by Youth in Caribbean Aquaculture and supported by the Caribbean Aquaculture Education and Innovation Hub, this initiative trains university science students to conduct farm visits, diagnose fish health problems, collect field data, and provide practical support to farmers. These young scientists are filling a critical national gap — building local expertise while helping the industry respond to emerging climate and disease challenges.

To do this work effectively, we urgently need essential diagnostic and field equipment, including:

• Water quality testing kits
• Dissolved oxygen (DO) meter
• Microscopes
• Fish necropsy and dissection kits
• Field tools for disease investigation and data collection

Our goal is to raise $4,000 USD to purchase this equipment so the NextGen team can carry out farm visits, conduct case studies, and gather the scientific evidence needed to understand what is happening on Jamaican tilapia farms — and help farmers recover.

Your support will help train the next generation of aquatic health professionals, strengthen food security, and protect the future of aquaculture in Jamaica.

Every contribution helps us respond to this urgent crisis with science, knowledge, and action.

Please support Youth in Aquaculture NextGen today.