As aquaculture expands across Africa, ensuring the welfare of farmed Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is critical not only for ethical reasons, but also for sustainable production, fish health, and market access. This presentation shares insights from the rollout of the Tilapia Welfare Assessment Protocol and App, developed by FAI Farms Ltd. and tested at scale in Egypt — the third-largest tilapia-producing country in the world and the first in Africa, leading the way in sectoral innovation and advancement.
The welfare protocol assesses tilapia across four key domains: environment, nutrition, health, and behaviour. It uses weighted indicators such as water quality (e.g., pH, alkalinity), feeding practices and observed behaviours to calculate a General Welfare Index (GWI) and Partial Welfare Indices (PWIs). These indicators are grounded in peer-reviewed science but adapted for practical farm use.
The accompanying Tilapia Welfare App makes it easy for farmers and extension officers to collect data, receive instant welfare scores and identify areas for improvement. With over 2,000 farms registered and more than 5,000 assessments completed — with the majority in Egypt — the app is already supporting real-time decision-making, improving animal welfare and reducing preventable losses.
By combining rigorous science with user-friendly technology and capacity building, this work demonstrates how welfare can be integrated into day-to-day farm management. The lessons from Egypt are highly relevant to other African countries aiming to scale tilapia production while maintaining high standards of fish welfare and sustainability.