The Tilapia Welfare Egypt Project has marked a significant achievement by enhancing the welfare of over 260 million fish, impacting 10% of Egypt’s Nile tilapia.
The collaboration between FAI, Ethical Seafood Research and Aquavet Eqypt launched in early 2024 and aims to improve fish welfare in Africa’s leading tilapia-producing nation.
Wasseem Emam, lead researcher and founder of ESR said he was thrilled with the progress. “This project is about creating lasting change,” he said.
“We’re demonstrating the power of ethical aquaculture practices in positively impacting both the fish and farmers.”
Central to this initiative is the FAI Tilapia Welfare app which has been downloaded more than 300 times so far and accompanying e-learning courses which have seen 150 educators trained to support Egypt’s aquaculture sector.
The resources have been implemented across more than 1,000 farms in key production regions, including Kafr El Sheikh, Beheira, Sharkia and Port Said.
“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,” said Murilo Quintiliano, FAI’s chief operations officer.
To date, over 3,000 welfare assessments have been completed, with a goal of reaching 4,000 soon. The project has strong support from academic and governmental partners, including Kafr El Sheikh University and Cairo University, which are integrating welfare training into their curricula.
Workshops and hands-on training sessions have been conducted for students and industry professionals, further broadening the initiative’s impact.
