Tilapia is one of the world's most farmed fish; improving welfare in tilapia aquaculture requires addressing crowding, water quality, and humane slaughter practices.
Tilapia welfare in intensive aquaculture mirrors that of other farmed fish species: crowding stress, water quality challenges, and inhumane slaughter methods are the primary concerns. Their hardiness has led to a mistaken assumption that tilapia are indifferent to welfare conditions — but physiological stress markers including cortisol and glucose are clearly elevated in overcrowded ponds. High aggression at feeding time under competitive conditions causes chronic fin and body damage. Slaughter by CO2 narcosis or live ice immersion without prior stunning causes prolonged stress. Electric stunning before processing is feasible and dramatically improves pre-slaughter welfare, with the added commercial benefit of reducing stress myopathy that degrades flesh quality.