Tilapia is among the most farmed fish globally, produced in warm-water systems across Asia, Africa and Latin America with welfare conditions that vary from acceptable to deeply problematic.
Tilapia welfare in intensive production faces challenges common to warm-water aquaculture: water quality management at high stocking densities, disease prevention and treatment, and slaughter welfare. Tilapia are relatively robust fish but this tolerance can encourage pushing stocking densities beyond welfare-appropriate levels. High ammonia and low oxygen from poor water management cause respiratory distress, gill damage and behavioural changes consistent with chronic stress. Hormone treatment used to produce monosex populations affects fish physiology in ways not fully characterised for welfare. Slaughter methods in many tilapia producing countries involve live chilling or simple asphyxiation without prior stunning. Welfare improvement in tilapia production requires attention to stocking density, water quality monitoring, disease management and slaughter practices.