January 27, 2025
FAI release new online training course to improve tilapia welfare worldwide
Launched last week, ‘Tilapia Behaviour and Welfare Indicators: from foraging to humane slaughter’ is the latest free online training course produced by leading tilapia welfare experts, FAI.
Sara Barrento
Head of e-Learning
Sara is a marine biologist from Portugal passionate about communication, training and making complex topics accessible to all audiences in the supply chain. She is FAI’s Head of Training managing FAI Academy and the training management system Wyllow. She also co-creates and delivers free online and blended training events available in many languages to aquaculture farmers globally.
Sara completed her PhD on the nutritional quality and physiological responses to transport and storage of live crustaceans traded in Portugal in 2010 at Porto University. Since then, she has worked as a post-doc in Portugal, Chile and the UK on international collaborative projects related to the live trade of farmed mussels, kelp farming and the welfare of fish and shrimp. She started lecturing at Swansea University in 2015, where she maintains an honorary role.
Sara lives in Wales where you’ll find her mountain biking wherever there are trails, surfing off the Gower or sweating at hot yoga.
Launched last week, ‘Tilapia Behaviour and Welfare Indicators: from foraging to humane slaughter’ is the latest free online training course produced by leading tilapia welfare experts, FAI.
Available through FAI’s learning portal, FAI Academy, and accessible globally, the new course empowers aquaculture professionals to improve tilapia welfare, boost farm productivity, and promote sustainable practices.
“The course is specifically tailored for fish farmers, veterinarians, and seafood supply chain professionals, providing practical insights into critical welfare areas,” explains Dr. Sara Barrento, FAI’s e-learning and aquaculture program manager.
“Participants will gain hands-on skills to assess tilapia behaviour, recognise welfare indicators, and humane slaughter methods, all grounded in the latest scientific research and best practices.
“Importantly, the course also addresses the widespread misunderstandings about what humane slaughter truly means, offering practical examples to help distinguish humane methods from inhumane ones. By advancing these practices, we’re not just improving fish well-being, we’re driving a more ethical and informed approach to food production.”
Topics covered in the new course include measuring behavioural indicators such as swimming and foraging using a three-score system, recognising signs of pre-slaughter stress and adopting humane slaughter methods.
“This is more than just learning theory,” continues Dr. Barrento. “Farmers gain actionable skills to actively monitor and assess the welfare of their fish, allowing them to take control of welfare outcomes on their farms. Focusing on welfare enables farmers to enhance productivity, improve meat quality, and strengthen their farm’s reputation.”
This course is just one in a series of five online welfare-focused courses that FAI offer and together they form a core component of FAI’s ongoing Tilapia Welfare Project. This project is aimed at improving the lives of as many farmed tilapia as possible worldwide. By providing accessible, science-based resources, FAI is helping farmers achieve better welfare outcomes and establishing them as leaders in sustainable aquaculture practices.
“While this course is specifically focused on the behavioural aspects of tilapia welfare it is essential for welfare practitioners to assess all welfare indicators across the different domains: environmental, nutrition, and health,” says Dr Barrento. “When all our courses are completed together, they provide a comprehensive toolkit for learners to become effective welfare practitioners on their farms and ensure their fish thrive.”
"Tilapia welfare plays a vital role in aquaculture and we’re working to provide a comprehensive toolkit for improving welfare outcomes," concludes Dr. Barrento. "Our research and expertise within the aquaculture sector show that enhancing fish welfare not only results in healthier fish with a better quality of life but also boosts profitability for farmers.
“By advancing tilapia welfare practices, we’re not just improving fish well-being, but also contributing to more sustainable food production."
The Tilapia Behaviour and Welfare Indicators course can be accessed for free via the FAI Academy website.
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Sara Barrento
Head of e-Learning
Sara is a marine biologist from Portugal passionate about communication, training and making complex topics accessible to all audiences in the supply chain. She is FAI’s Head of Training managing FAI Academy and the training management system Wyllow. She also co-creates and delivers free online and blended training events available in many languages to aquaculture farmers globally.
Sara completed her PhD on the nutritional quality and physiological responses to transport and storage of live crustaceans traded in Portugal in 2010 at Porto University. Since then, she has worked as a post-doc in Portugal, Chile and the UK on international collaborative projects related to the live trade of farmed mussels, kelp farming and the welfare of fish and shrimp. She started lecturing at Swansea University in 2015, where she maintains an honorary role.
Sara lives in Wales where you’ll find her mountain biking wherever there are trails, surfing off the Gower or sweating at hot yoga.