Aquaculture R&D company FAI has entered a new working partnership with Egypt’s Central Lab for Aquaculture Research (CLAR) to advance fish welfare within the Egyptian tilapia sector.
Further strengthening the ongoing work of FAI’s existing Tilapia Welfare Egypt project, the new partnership was formalised with FAI signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with CLAR and existing Egypt-based project partner, Ethical Seafood Research (ESR). This MOU outlines plans to improve the assessment and management of tilapia welfare across Egypt, using the combined expertise of CLAR, FAI and ESR to support the sustainable growth of the sector.
“By tailoring welfare practices to Egypt’s specific needs, we hope Egypt can emerge as a global leader in tilapia welfare,” FAI COO Murilo Quintiliano said. “We want to be working in countries where tilapia is being produced at scale, so we can improve the lives and welfare of as many fish as possible.”
Despite the critical role of tilapia farming in Egypt and neighbouring countries, welfare remains a largely underexplored area, said Professor Refaat El-Gamal, head of the CLAR team.
“Through this new collaboration, we’re committed to developing and implementing welfare assessment protocols, tools, and training materials tailored to the Egyptian aquaculture industry.
“By using FAI’s industry-leading welfare assessment protocols and actively engaging Egyptian farmers, we seek to foster a deeper understanding and adoption of welfare practices. This initiative is expected to play a pivotal role in enhancing both the welfare of farmed fish and the productivity of the aquaculture sector,” El-Gamal said.
CLAR’s efforts are primarily focused on meeting the growing domestic demand for fish protein, achieving self-sufficiency, and developing future export markets for farmed aquatic species.
“FAI’s expertise, combined with its user-friendly tools like the FAI Tilapia Welfare App, will greatly benefit our work,” El-Gamal said. “The digital tools provided by FAI will enable us to help farmers transition from paper-based records to more efficient digital systems. This will allow farmers to carry out welfare assessments more easily and effectively. Empowering farmers with the knowledge and resources to improve fish health and welfare is vital to increasing fish survival rates and overall farm efficiency.”
Quintiliano explained that as the leading tilapia producer in Africa and one of the top three worldwide, Egypt is in a prime position to champion the implementation of enhanced welfare practices.
“This partnership signifies a significant milestone in the journey toward sustainable and ethical aquaculture in Egypt, with the potential to set new standards in fish welfare,” he said.
