Tilapia Welfare Project Has Improved the Lives of more than 260 Million Fish in Egypt – The Tilapia Welfare Egypt Project, a collaboration between FAI, Ethical Seafood Research (ESR) and Aquavet Egypt, has achieved a major milestone by improving the welfare of more than 260 million fish, impacting 10% of Egypt’s Nile tilapia.
This achievement represents a significant advance in addressing fish welfare within the aquaculture industry of Africa’s largest tilapia-producing nation.
“We’re thrilled with the progress we’re making,” said Wasseem Emam, lead researcher and founder of ESR. “We’re demonstrating the power of ethical aquaculture practices in positively impacting both the fish and farmers.
“This project is about creating lasting change. We have already seen more than 300 downloads of FAI’s Tilapia Welfare App and 150 welfare educators trained to disseminate welfare knowledge throughout the Egyptian aquaculture sector. We’re making real strides towards sustainable, welfare-focused farming.”
The project, launched in early 2024, integrates FAI’s Tilapia Welfare App and e-learning courses to provide fish farmers across Egypt with access to tools and learning that help them assess and manage the welfare and performance of their fish more effectively.
The app and training courses have been rolled out to more than 1,000 farms in vital production regions such as Kafr El Sheikh, Beheira, Sharkia and Port Said. As part of the initiative, more than 3,000 welfare assessments have been conducted, with a target of reaching 4,000 assessments soon.
“This initiative has huge potential to transform aquaculture in Egypt,” said Murilo Quintiliano, FAI’s COO. “Egypt is one of the world’s top tilapia producers, and by introducing welfare practices on this scale, we’re seeing a tangible shift towards better fish health, higher farm profitability and improved industry standards. It’s exciting to know this project is laying the foundation of long-term success.”
The project is supported by strong academic, veterinary health and governmental partnerships. Institutions such as Kafr El Sheikh University, Cairo University and the Central Laboratory for Aquaculture Research (CLAR) have been involved with integrating welfare training into their education and outreach programs, helping to embed welfare practices across the sector. Workshops and hands-on training have also been provided to students and industry professionals, further expanding the reach of the welfare initiative.
“For FAI to achieve its global goals of improving the lives of as many tilapias as possible via our Tilapia Welfare Project, working in Egypt is critical as it’s one of the world’s top producers,” concluded FAI CEO Øistein Thorsen. “We’re not only addressing an overlooked area of animal welfare but also reshaping the future of Egypt’s aquaculture sector by aligning better fish care with economic benefits for farmers.”
About FAI
FAI is a leader in aquaculture welfare research, committed to advancing sustainable and responsible farming practices. Through collaboration and innovation, FAI helps drive positive change across the aquaculture sector.
To learn more about the Tilapia Welfare Assessment app, visit: https://www.mytilapia.farm
To learn more or sign up to the FAI Academy Tilapia Welfare Training course, visit: https://fai.academy
About Ethical Seafood Research (ESR)
Ethical Seafood Research (ESR) promotes ethical practices within the aquatic foods industry, working globally to improve welfare and support sustainable aquaculture.
Tilapia Welfare Project Has Improved the Lives of more than 260 Million Fish in Egypt
