Kenya launches tilapia welfare app to revolutionise fish farming practices

KENYA – The government of Kenya has launched the FAI Tilapia Welfare App as part of the Kenya Fish Welfare Project, a pioneering tool to transform aquaculture practices and promote more humane, sustainable fish farming across the country.

Developed by Ethical Seafood Research (ESR), FAI Farms, and the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI), the app is designed to equip tilapia farmers with practical tools to improve fish care and overall farm performance.

The initiative goes beyond the digital platform, incorporating in-person training sessions to support farmers and extension officers. These sessions provide hands-on education in fish welfare, farm management, and water quality control.

“This initiative builds on our work with FAI in Egypt, where the adoption of welfare-focused training and digital tools has significantly improved tilapia farming practices,” said Wasseem Emam, founder and head of research at ESR. “By applying these learnings in Kenya, we aim to support a more sustainable and welfare-conscious aquaculture sector across East Africa.”

The project’s year-long rollout officially began last week with a training workshop at KMFRI headquarters in Kisumu. 

The event brought together 30 extension officers from nine counties—Busia, Homa Bay, Kakamega, Kisii, Kisumu, Migori, Nyamira, Siaya, and Vihiga—marking the first step in cascading welfare tools and knowledge to farmers on the ground.

During the workshop, participants engaged in both theoretical and practical sessions, covering essential topics such as water quality testing and tilapia welfare principles. 

The training also introduced FAI’s e-learning modules, which complement the app’s offerings and are available on the FAI Academy website.

“FAI is committed to improving fish welfare globally, and this project in Kenya is an important step in that journey,” said Murilo Quintiliano, COO of FAI. 

“While the scale of aquaculture in the country is still relatively small, Kenya is one of the fastest-growing fish-producing nations in Africa, so we’re excited to be supporting welfare work at this early stage.”

Extension officers also visited local farms to conduct welfare assessments and see firsthand how the app can streamline operations, improve record-keeping, and offer real-time insights into fish health and farm productivity.

“Last year, we surveyed Kenyan fish farmers and found there was not only significant scope for improvement in welfare practices, but also high levels of enthusiasm to change farming methods to enhance tilapia welfare,” added Emam. “By educating a cohort of extension officers, we aim to meet this demand and spread vital welfare knowledge across the nation’s fish farming sector.”

Dr. Paul Orina of KMFRI noted, “The recent training will go a long way in creating awareness on environmental management as well as enhanced production and productivity. The Tilapia Welfare App is also proving very useful when the country is shifting to more intensive aquaculture.”

The project is expected to spur long-term improvements in Kenya’s aquaculture sector by integrating better welfare standards into everyday practices, proving that better fish care leads to better business.

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