Tilapia welfare training in Kenya.
Photo: Ethical Seafood Research
A new digital tool has been launched in Kenya, aiming to support sustainability and animal welfare within the country's growing tilapia aquaculture sector.
The Tilapia Welfare app, developed by FAI, was released in Kenya during March, marking the latest phase of the Kenya Fish Welfare Project, a collaborative initiative led by Ethical Seafood Research (ESR), FAI, and the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI).
“This initiative builds on our work with FAI in Egypt, where the adoption of welfare-focused training and digital tools has significantly improved tilapia farming practices,” said Wasseem Emam, founder, director and head of research at ESR, in a press release.
“By applying these learnings in Kenya, we aim to support a more sustainable and welfare-conscious aquaculture sector across East Africa."
“Demand for tilapia in Kenya is very high, but supply is relatively low, so there is a big push to increase production levels. We must ensure that the highest welfare practices – promoted by the Kenya Fish Welfare Project - are at the heart of this drive to increase productivity. Using FAI’s globally recognised tools and expertise allows us to do this,” Emam added.
The initiative officially began at the end of March with a training workshop at KMFRI headquarters in Kisumu. Thirty extension officers from nine counties – Busia, Homa Bay, Kakamega, Kisii, Kisumu, Migori, Nyamira, Siaya and Vihiga – participated in the program, which combined theoretical sessions and hands-on farm visits. The workshop was delivered by ESR Country Managers Mohamed Bakr from Egypt and Faisal Qureshi of ESR Kenya, with support from Dr Paul Orina and his team at KMFRI.
“The recent training will go a long way in creating awareness on environmental management as well as enhanced production and productivity. The Tilapia Welfare App is also proving very useful at a time when the country is shifting to more intensive aquaculture," Dr Orina said.
During the workshop, participants refreshed their knowledge of water quality testing tools, explored theoretical aspects of fish welfare, and accessed FAI’s e-learning tilapia welfare training modules via the FAI Academy website. They then practiced welfare assessments on local farms, focusing on how FAI Tilapia Welfare App can support farm management through better record-keeping and insights into performance in real time.
“Last year we surveyed Kenyan fish farmers and found there was not only significant scope for improvement in welfare practices, but also high levels of enthusiasm to change farming methods to enhance tilapia welfare. By educating a cohort of extension officers, we aim to meet this demand and spread vital welfare knowledge across the nation’s fish farming sector," Emam explained.
“FAI is committed to improving fish welfare globally, and this project in Kenya is an important step in that journey,” said Murilo Quintiliano, COO of FAI.
“While the scale of aquaculture in the country is still relatively small, Kenya is one of the fastest growing fish producing nations in Africa, so we’re excited to be supporting welfare work at this early stage."
