Tilapia is among the most farmed fish species globally. High stocking densities and water quality management have major implications for the welfare of billions of fish.
The sheer scale of tilapia farming means that welfare improvements have enormous impact potential. Even small per-fish welfare improvements, multiplied across billions of animals, represent massive reductions in suffering. Key welfare priorities include maintaining adequate dissolved oxygen, managing stocking density to reduce aggression, providing adequate feed access, and implementing more humane slaughter methods. The welfare science for tilapia is less developed than for salmon, creating research and advocacy gaps.