New partnership to enhance tilapia welfare in Egypt

A new working partnership has been launched to advance fish welfare within Egypt's tilapia farming sector, with animal welfare and sustainable food production specialist FAI joining forces with Egypt's Central Lab for Aquaculture Research (CLAR).

The new partnership, which builds on ongoing work as part of the Tilapia Welfare Egypt project, was formalised with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between FAI, CLAR and existing Egypt-based project partner, Ethical Seafood Research (ESR).

The partnership agreement outlines a comprehensive plan 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 nation’s tilapia sector.

“By tailoring welfare practices to Egypt’s specific needs, we hope Egypt can emerge as a global leader in tilapia welfare,” explained FAI’s COO, Murilo Quintiliano in a press release. “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,” stated 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."

“FAI’s expertise, combined with its user-friendly tools like the FAI Tilapia Welfare App, will greatly benefit our work,” El-Gamal added. “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.”

The partners emphasize that CLAR is already recognized for its leadership in research, training, and outreach within the Egyptian aquaculture sector. The organization focuses on meeting the growing domestic demand for fish protein, achieving self-sufficiency, and developing future export markets for farmed aquatic species - and this formal partnership with FAI is expected to support these efforts.

“As the leading tilapia producer in Africa, Egypt is in a prime position to champion the implementation of enhanced welfare practices,” said Quintiliano. “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.”