Tilapia farming in sub-Saharan Africa is expanding rapidly as a source of affordable protein, raising welfare questions appropriate to small-scale and intensive production contexts.
Tilapia welfare in African aquaculture must be considered in context of the food security and livelihood benefits the industry provides to communities across the continent. However, resilience to poor conditions does not mean that welfare in those conditions is adequate. Overcrowded, oxygen-depleted cages cause suffering even in hardy species. Welfare improvements in African tilapia farming must be designed to be practical, affordable and culturally appropriate to achieve uptake at scale.