Tilapia is one of the world's most widely farmed fish species, with production concentrated in developing countries where welfare standards are often minimal and need significant improvement.
Tilapia welfare has received relatively little research attention compared to salmonid species, partly because of their apparent physiological hardiness. However, hardiness does not mean insensitivity to poor conditions. High-density production with inadequate water quality management causes chronic stress and immunosuppression, increasing disease susceptibility. The welfare of tilapia in pond and cage systems in tropical countries is often poorly monitored, and international certification schemes rarely address tilapia-specific welfare needs. Building the evidence base and developing species-specific standards is urgently needed.