Tilapia is the second most farmed fish globally, and welfare considerations around stocking density, water quality, and slaughter are gaining increasing regulatory attention.
Tilapia welfare has received less attention than salmon or trout despite the enormous scale of production. Evidence supports tilapia sentience and capacity for suffering, making welfare consideration ethically important at this scale. Key concerns include chronic crowding stress, water quality management especially oxygen levels, inhumane slaughter practices, and the welfare implications of hormone-based sex reversal. Certification schemes covering tilapia are expanding their welfare requirements, and major retailers increasingly specify welfare standards for tilapia sourcing.