Tilapia aquaculture is expanding rapidly in sub-Saharan Africa as a food security solution, but small-scale pond farming presents distinct fish welfare challenges.
Tilapia welfare in sub-Saharan smallholder systems is rarely prioritized, as farm operators focus primarily on survival and food security. However, fish welfare and production efficiency are often aligned — overcrowded, oxygen-depleted ponds produce stressed, slow-growing fish more susceptible to disease. Simple interventions like aeration, density management, and disease monitoring improve both welfare and yield. Slaughter welfare is the most acute concern: fish killed by suffocation experience prolonged distress. Stunning before killing using percussion or clove oil is feasible even in resource-limited settings and significantly reduces suffering. Extension services that teach integrated welfare and productivity improvements create the most accessible pathway to change.