Advanced welfare considerations in farmed tilapia production, one of the most commonly farmed fish globally, with a focus on social behavior and environmental needs.
Tilapia welfare in commercial production centers primarily on managing the species inherent aggression, particularly in male fish, and maintaining water quality at the high stocking densities used commercially. Territorial aggression causes injuries including fin damage, eye loss, and skin abrasions that create entry points for infection. Stocking density management, hiding structures or visual barriers in pond systems, and mixed-sex stocking at moderate densities can reduce aggression-related welfare problems. The widespread use of methyltestosterone for sex reversal creates both welfare questions related to hormonal manipulation and environmental concerns about hormone discharge. Pre-slaughter welfare improvements including effective stunning before killing are technically feasible and should be standard practice.