© FAI
The project is a collaboration between FAI, Ethical Seafood Research (ESR) and Aquavet Egypt, and the milestone represents a significant advance in addressing fish welfare within the aquaculture industry of Africa’s largest tilapia-producing nation.
"We’re thrilled with the progress we’re making. We’re demonstrating the power of ethical aquaculture practices in positively impacting both the fish and farmers," said Wasseem Emam, lead researcher and founder of ESR, in a press release to mark the milestone.
The project, launched in early 2024, integrates FAI’s Tilapia Welfare App and e-learning courses to provide fish farmers across Egypt with access to tools and learning that help them assess and manage the welfare and performance of their fish more effectively.
The app and training courses have been rolled out to more than 1,000 farms in vital production regions such as Kafr El Sheikh, Beheira, Sharkia and Port Said. As part of the initiative, more than 3,000 welfare assessments have been conducted, with a target of reaching 4,000 assessments soon.
"This initiative has huge potential to transform aquaculture in Egypt," said Murilo Quintiliano, FAI’s COO. "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. It’s exciting to know this project is laying the foundation of long-term success."
The project is supported by strong academic, veterinary health and governmental partnerships. Institutions such as Kafr El Sheikh University, Cairo University and the Central Laboratory for Aquaculture Research (CLAR) have been involved with integrating welfare training into their education and outreach programmes, helping to embed welfare practices across the sector. Workshops and hands-on training have also been provided to students and industry professionals, further expanding the reach of the welfare initiative.
"For FAI to achieve its global goals of improving the lives of as many tilapia as possible via our Tilapia Welfare Project, working in Egypt is critical as it’s one of the world’s top producers,” concluded FAI CEO Øistein Thorsen. "We’re not only addressing an overlooked area of animal welfare but also reshaping the future of Egypt’s aquaculture sector by aligning better fish care with economic benefits for farmers."
