Tilapia is among the world's most farmed fish, yet its welfare in intensive aquaculture systems receives little attention despite evidence of stress, injury, and poor water quality as widespread problems.
Tilapia farming has expanded rapidly on the basis of the species' hardiness and adaptability, but these characteristics have been used to justify intensive conditions that would be unacceptable for other farmed species. Evidence of tilapia sentience and capacity for suffering is now robust enough to demand welfare-centred reform. Key priorities include reducing stocking densities, improving dissolved oxygen management, eliminating hormone-based sex reversal where possible, and implementing humane slaughter methods. The scale of tilapia production means even modest per-fish welfare improvements could benefit hundreds of millions of animals annually.