Tilapia is the third most farmed fish globally, with production concentrated in tropical and subtropical regions where welfare standards are variable and often minimal.
Tilapia welfare in intensive production systems involves crowding stress, water quality deterioration, aggression between fish, and poor pre-slaughter and slaughter welfare. Tilapia are robust species that survive poor conditions longer than more sensitive species, which has allowed welfare standards to remain low. As global production scales to meet protein demand, establishing welfare standards now — before the industry reaches the size of salmon farming — is far more tractable than retrospective reform. Consumer pressure in developed country markets for certified welfare standards can drive improvement in export-oriented production.