Polyculture of tilapias (Oreo¬chromis niloticus and 0. mossambicus/O. niloticus hybrid) with shrimp (Penaeus orientalis) has been investigated several times in China since 1981. The results have caused much debate. Oppositionists held that finfish, especially tilapias, would rapidly consume the shrimp postlarvae and juveniles as happened when shrimp were put together with tilapias in a small tank. This article gave an overview of this practice in China.