Tilapia farming meets fish welfare in Africa

In sub-Saharan Africa, tilapia is a fast-growing sector within aquaculture and projected to expand by an expected 20% in 2025. Kenya, Ghana and Zambia are leading the charge, with Kenya set to grow production by 44% this year, following an 81% increase in 2023. These gains reflect not only growing demand but significant investment in production infrastructure, technology and farm management.

But as output rises, questions about production methods and fish welfare are becoming more urgent.

While the benefits of fish farming in Africa are widely recognised — from job creation to affordable protein — concerns around pond conditions, water quality, disease management and animal welfare have grown in parallel with increased production. For many smallholder farmers, tools to monitor and improve fish health have been virtually non-existent.

“We can’t afford to let welfare be an afterthought,” adds Øistein Thorsen, CEO of FAI. “If tilapia is becoming the backbone of African aquaculture, it’s essential we ensure the systems behind it are sustainable from an ethical, environmental and economic standpoint.”

Recognising this gap, Ethical Seafood Research (ESR), together with FAI, the University of Nairobi and Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI), has established the Kenya Fish Welfare Project. Backed by the Welttierschutzstiftung Research Grants Scheme and supported by county governments in Kisumu, Kakamega and Kisii, the initiative set out to embed fish welfare into the foundations of Kenya’s growing aquaculture.

“When we talk about improving fish welfare, we’re not just talking about ethics, we’re talking about better farm performance and stronger food systems,” says Wasseem Emam, Founder and Director of ESR. “The Kenya Fish Welfare Project is helping make that possible farm by farm and having a tangible, positive impact on the nation’s aquaculture sector.

Field coordinator John Nyambane, a PhD student at the University of Nairobi, is using this data to inform his academic research and support the development of evidence-based welfare guidelines for Kenya’s aquaculture sector.

“Tools like the Tilapia Welfare App give farmers a tool to monitor fish health and combined with hands on training we provide a practical structure to think about welfare in a new way,” explains John. “Farmers are already using it to gather data, identify issues early and make improvements that reduce mortality and increase yields. When you empower farmers, the results can be transformative.”

A continental approach

Kenya is not an isolated example.

As tilapia booms across Africa, the Tilapia Welfare App and training initiatives are being rolled out in Ghana, Uganda, Nigeria, Tanzania and Zambia. This expansion included induction sessions with new partners and user training, remote technical support and field-level guidance tailored to local conditions.

In Uganda, longer-term partnerships are developing with producers and in Zambia — Africa’s fastest-growing tilapia producer — the groundwork is being laid for adoption of digital welfare monitoring.

“We’re working closely with advocates, researchers and producers across Africa to embed welfare as a practical part of aquaculture,” Wasseem adds. “It’s not about applying a set model but building something that works for Africa.”

To complement the Tilapia Welfare App, FAI has a suite of free, mobile-friendly online courses via the FAI Academy, covering welfare assessment, humane slaughter and fish behaviour. These resources are available in multiple languages and helping ensure fish farmers, extension officers and aquaculture professionals across Africa can build practical welfare knowledge at their own pace. 

Looking ahead

With Phase 1 of the Kenya project complete, the initiative is now moving into a new phase: continuous, app-based monitoring throughout full production cycles. Graduate assessors are being recruited, new data streams are emerging, and the connection between fish welfare and farm productivity is becoming clearer by the day.

“This is about more than just technology,” Wasseem reflects. “It’s about changing how we farm fish and giving farmers the insight and confidence to improve conditions, reduce losses and produce better fish.”

“The momentum in Kenya mirrors a wider shift across Africa,” concludes Øistein. “As tilapia cements its place as a cornerstone of regional aquaculture, there is an urgent need to ensure welfare scales with production. That means practical support, locally adapted tools and training that empowers farmers and supply chains alike.”

At FAI, we’re helping shape that future. Through our consultancy, digital tools and online learning, we work with producers, educators, companies and governments to integrate welfare into aquaculture systems not as an afterthought, but as a foundation for long-term success.