Africa hosts groundbreaking AQUAWEL conference to champion fish welfare

AFRICA –  A powerful call for humane, sustainable aquaculture echoed across Africa as stakeholders converged for the Africa Aquatic Animal Welfare (AQUAWEL) Conference, held virtually from June 17-18, 2025 to place fish welfare squarely at the center of Africa’s blue economy.

The event, organized by the Africa Fish and Aquaculture Welfare (AFIWEL) Program under Nigeria’s One Health and Development Initiative (OHDI), marked a major milestone in efforts to reform aquaculture practices, build stronger policies, and create an environment where welfare and productivity go hand in hand.

Backed by a One Health approach, which recognizes the inextricable links between human, animal, and environmental well-being, AFIWEL is working to transform aquaculture across the continent. 

Its efforts include research and innovation on aquatic animal health, capacity-building programs such as the AFIWEL Fellowship, stakeholder engagement, and the creation of Africa’s first Aquaculture Fish Welfare Training Guide, launched during the conference.

Over two days, participants engaged in high-level panels and workshops addressing policy gaps, welfare standards, sustainability, and the future of climate-resilient aquaculture systems. 

A recurring theme throughout the event was the urgent need to embed welfare in both policy and practice, and to shift industry mindsets from extractive models toward more ethical, inclusive systems.

“Fish welfare is not a luxury, it is a necessity,” said keynote speaker Ms. Foluke Areola, President of the World Aquaculture Society (African Chapter). “When aquatic organisms suffer, the entire ecosystem suffers.”

The conference placed a strong emphasis on policy reform. National and regional leaders acknowledged the growing pressure from farmer groups and civil society to address welfare concerns in aquaculture legislation. 

Discussions explored how local knowledge, early training, and intersectoral collaboration could help bridge the regulatory gaps.

The place of technology 

Technology also played a central role. One of the standout innovations presented was RORE (Responsive One Health Resource Engine), a multilingual, AI-powered chatbot designed to deliver real-time, evidence-based support across aquatic and environmental health systems. 

Already integrated into AFIWEL’s programming, RORE provides fish farmers and frontline practitioners with tools to report welfare issues, access practical information, and receive AI-generated recommendations tailored to their location and needs.

The conference also showcased homegrown solutions already being implemented in various countries. In Nigeria, for instance, fish hatcheries are improving water quality by using processed shellfish to control pond acidity, an affordable, locally available alternative to commercial pH regulators. 

In Kenya, researchers and extension officers are working to train fishers transitioning from capture fisheries to aquaculture, a process that requires a new understanding of welfare across the value chain.

Yet, the conversation extended beyond technical fixes. Speakers emphasised the cultural shift required to prioritise welfare in aquaculture truly. 

“Don’t work in silos. Collaborate,” urged Catalina Lopez of the Aquatic Life Institute during a session on industry transformation. “No single model works for all situations. One Health is what the future of aquaculture is built on.”

The event concluded with a strategic roundtable to co-develop a continental action plan for fish welfare, bringing together experts from research, policy, education, and the private sector. 

For AFIWEL and its partners, the message was clear: fish welfare is no longer an optional ideal. It is a cornerstone of resilient food systems, ethical trade, and environmental stewardship, and Africa is ready to lead.

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