By FAI
Kenya’s aquaculture sector is advancing towards greater sustainability with the official launch of the FAI Tilapia Welfare App in the country last month. This milestone marks the latest phase of the Kenya Fish Welfare Project, initiated by Ethical Seafood Research’s Kenya office in early 2023.
Building on the foundations laid by the Kenya Fish Welfare Project last month – which included farmer training and surveys on fish welfare – FAI, Ethical Seafood Research (ESR), and the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) have partnered to introduce FAI’s tilapia welfare tools to Kenya’s aquaculture sector. This collaboration brings together the Tilapia Welfare App and hands-on training to equip farmers and extension officers with the skills and resources to improve fish welfare and boost farm performance across the country.
“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. “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 recognized tools and expertise allows us to do this.”
The year-long initiative to bring the tilapia welfare tools to Kenya officially kicked off last week at KMFRI’s headquarters in Kisumu, with thirty Extension Officers from nine counties – including Busia, Homa Bay, Kakamega, Kisii, Kisumu, Migori, Nyamira, Siaya and Vihiga – participating in a practical training workshop.
During sessions on the theoretical aspects of what good welfare looks like and why it matters to farmers, participants refreshed their knowledge of water quality testing tools and were introduced to FAI’s e-learning tilapia welfare training modules on the FAI Academy website. Later, extension officers visited local farms to practice carrying out welfare assessments themselves. During these farm visits, they experienced first-hand how the FAI Tilapia Welfare App can support farm management by improving record-keeping and providing real-time insights into farm and fish performance.
“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,” continued Wasseem. “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.”
The training workshop was led 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. Mohamed provided expert insights on how Egypt’s thriving aquaculture sector has benefitted from integrating welfare management into everyday farming practices.
“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.
“With the help of ESR and KMFRI, we are equipping extension officers and farmers with the digital tools, training resources and advice they need to enhance fish welfare. This in turn improves farm efficiency, fish performance and helps promote more sustainable aquaculture practices.”
Dr. Paul Orina from KMFRI added: “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.”
The continuation of the Kenya Fish Welfare Project was made possible through the collaboration of major partners and the generous support of the Craigslist Charitable Fund.
“The project represents a significant milestone in the promotion of tilapia welfare in Kenya,” concluded Wasseem. “We’re looking forward to expanding our efforts and supporting more farmers and extension officers in adopting best aquaculture practices.”
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.
You can find out more about the FAI Tilapia Welfare App here: https://www.mytilapia.farm
You can find out more about FAI’s range of free tilapia welfare courses here: https://fai.academy
