Tilapia fry production involves several welfare-sensitive stages including egg incubation, mouthbrooding disruption, and early nursery management that affect survival and wellbeing of young fish.
The mechanical stripping of eggs from mouthbrooding tilapia females prevents the natural parental care behaviour strongly motivated in this species and causes handling stress. The early disruption of maternal behaviour may affect fry development. Sex reversal using hormones in juvenile fry raises welfare and food safety concerns that are increasingly attracting regulatory attention. Water quality management in fry production tanks is critical as larvae are highly sensitive to ammonia spikes. Hatchery welfare standards for tilapia should address stripping practices, sex reversal methods, and water quality requirements.