Tilapia Welfare App Launches in Kenya to Support Sustainable Aquaculture – The Tilapia Welfare App, developed by FAI Farms, was officially launched in Kenya in March 2025, marking a significant step forward for fish welfare in East Africa. This launch represents the latest phase of the Kenya Fish Welfare Project—a collaborative effort initiated by Ethical Seafood Research (ESR) in early 2023, in partnership with FAI and the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI).
Following its successful implementation in Egypt, ESR is introducing this cutting-edge welfare technology to Kenyan fish farmers to improve tilapia farming practices through science-driven insights and practical on-farm tools.
To kick off the initiative, a training workshop was held at KMFRI headquarters in Kisumu, bringing together 30 extension officers from nine counties: Busia, Homa Bay, Kakamega, Kisii, Kisumu, Migori, Nyamira, Siaya, and Vihiga. The program included classroom sessions and practical farm visits, delivered by ESR’s Mohamed Bakr (Egypt) and Faisal Qureshi (Kenya), with support from KMFRI’s Dr. Paul Orina and his team.
“This initiative builds on our work with FAI in Egypt, where the adoption of welfare-focused training and digital tools has significantly improved tilapia farming practices,”
said Wasseem Emam, founder, director and head of research at ESR, in a press release.
“By applying these learnings in Kenya, we aim to support a more sustainable and welfare-conscious aquaculture sector across East Africa.”
“Demand for tilapia in Kenya is very high, but supply is relatively low, so there is a big push to increase production levels. We must ensure that the highest welfare practices – promoted by the Kenya Fish Welfare Project – are at the heart of this drive to increase productivity. Using FAI’s globally recognised tools and expertise allows us to do this,”
Emam added.
FAI Farms (FAI), an international food animal solutions company that split off from Benchmark Holdings in 2020, has launched a welfare app for tilapia producers, developed in partnership with farmers and researchers in South America and Asia. The company is now seeking partners in the hatchery, farming and processing sectors.
FAI’s free-to-use Tilapia Welfare App operationalizes scientifically validated welfare indicators, allowing farmers’ own observations to help determine what good welfare for tilapia looks like.
“Who cares the most about tilapia welfare? We believe farmers are the most important factor to drive welfare improvements in aquaculture. We believe they are an untapped force for good whose power can be unleashed through practical farm assessments that align business and welfare objectives,”
said Øistein Thorsen, CEO of FAI.
The Tilapia Welfare App integrates well-established animal welfare science into farmers’ daily routines. The app monitors progress, identifies improvement opportunities, and provides real-time insight to users, supported by online training in multiple languages.
“I supply tilapia to the local market, and I am using the knowledge from the FAI Tilapia Welfare assessments to reduce losses, secure constant improvements and stay on track,”
said Paolo Tahara, owner of Brazilian tilapia farm Tahara Pescados.
“Our experience is that assessments kickstart a positive spiral of improvements,”
said Murilo Quintiliano, FAI director in Brazil.
The app can be used as a farmer self-assessment, or as a second- or third-party assessment tool. Results can be shared with customers and stakeholders, including certification bodies to assure good production practices and outcomes.
As aquaculture continues to grow across East Africa, tools like the Tilapia Welfare App help ensure that higher productivity doesn’t come at the cost of animal welfare. By empowering farmers with knowledge and accessible technology, the Kenya Fish Welfare Project is laying the groundwork for a more responsible and resilient future in fish farming.
Tilapia Welfare App Launches in Kenya to Support Sustainable Aquaculture
