Tilapia is one of the most farmed fish globally, with production concentrated in Africa, Asia and Latin America where welfare standards vary significantly.
Tilapia welfare is affected by the same core issues affecting all intensively farmed fish: stocking density, water quality, feed adequacy and slaughter method. At high densities, subordinate fish are chronically stressed through competition for food and space. Poor water quality causes respiratory distress. The scale of tilapia production means that small improvements in welfare standards would benefit hundreds of millions of individual fish annually. Consumer markets increasingly require sustainability certification that includes some welfare elements.