A group of trainees practicing assessment procedure on an Egyptian tilapia farm.
FAI / ESR
The Tilapia Welfare Egypt project has reached a significant milestone, with over 120 Egyptian aquaculture workers completing specialized training to enhance tilapia welfare.
The project, a collaboration between FAI and Ethical Seafood Research (ESR), was launched in February 2024 to provide fish farmers in Egypt with essential tools and knowledge for improving tilapia welfare and performance.
Since its inception, the project has conducted extensive research into the challenges of fish welfare through farm-based surveys, organized welfare-focused farm visits, and offered online learning sessions.
A comprehensive "train the trainers" program has also been implemented, creating a new group of fish welfare trainers to support the Egyptian tilapia sector.
"In collaboration with Aquavet Egypt and Kafrelsheikh University, we’ve successfully trained over 120 trainees in tilapia welfare assessment protocols and monitoring tools," said Wasseem Emam, founder, director, and head of research at ESR.
"These individuals will now disseminate their knowledge and experience among tilapia farmers across Egypt. The selected trainers will play a vital role in addressing this previously overlooked aspect of fish farming within the country’s globally important tilapia industry."
Improving tilapia welfare not only enhances fish wellbeing, but also improves performance and farm profitability, aligning Egypt with other leading fish-producing nations and potentially opening new export opportunities, the project team said.
The recent 'train the trainers' workshops carried out in Port Said and Kafr El-Sheikh focused on both theoretical and practical aspects of fish welfare, including hands-on training with FAI’s Tilapia Welfare App, a user-friendly platform for assessing and managing fish welfare on farms.
"Trainees also visited tilapia farms to practice welfare assessments in real-world settings and completed FAI Academy’s online Tilapia Welfare courses," added Emam. "The goal was to provide trainers with the knowledge, tools, and experience they need through a combination of face-to-face learning and online support."
Part of the 'train the trainers' workshops included specialist lecturers on tilapia welfare.
The project team say that over 200 copies of the Tilapia Welfare App have been downloaded by users in Egypt, demonstrating growing interest in tilapia welfare and the success of the project.
Shaimaa Bakr, Aquavet Egypt Aquaculture Specialist, who helped deliver the 'train the trainer' events, highlighted the importance of these tools, noting they "empower farmers with the knowledge and resources needed to improve fish health, boost productivity, and promote environmentally friendly practices."
The Tilapia Welfare Egypt project, run by ESR in partnership with FAI, aims to advance sustainable aquaculture practices worldwide.
“It’s an important project to be involved with,” said FAI’s COO Murilo Quintiliano, who visited Egypt along with his FAI colleague Dr Sara Barrento and the ESR team in February 2024 to help launch the project and learn about the specific challenges faced by Egyptian farmers.
“Egypt is the top tilapia producer in Africa and one the top three in the world, so it’s exciting to know there’s a new cohort of trainers working specifically to help promote and better support the implementation of welfare practices across the country.
“Together with ESR, we are positively impacting the aquaculture sector in Egypt and promoting improvements that benefit both tilapia farmers and the fish under their care.”
About Ethical Seafood Research (ESR)
Ethical Seafood Research (ESR) is dedicated to promoting ethical practices within the aquatic foods industry. Through research, education, and advocacy, ESR works to improve the welfare of aquatic animals and support sustainable aquaculture practices worldwide.
About FAI
FAI is a global leader in aquaculture welfare research and development, committed to advancing sustainable and responsible aquaculture practices. With a focus on innovation and collaboration, FAI works with industry partners to drive positive change across the aquaculture sector.