Tilapia at a geothermal heated fish farm in southern Idaho. Tilapia is the common name for nearly a hundred species of cichlids. Tilapia are indigenous to a variety of fresh water habitats in Africa. They have been distributed around the world for aquaculture as a food fish. Tilapia is the third most important fish in aquaculture, with world production of 2 million metric tons. Tilapia is an excellent quality, protein rich food fish.