FAI expands training to strengthen tilapia welfare worldwide

GLOBAL – FAI, an initiative of FAI Farms, a global consultancy and training provider specializing in animal welfare and sustainable food production, has launched a new online training course designed to enhance tilapia welfare and support farmers worldwide. 

The module, Tilapia Health Welfare Indicators, is available for free on FAI’s learning platform, FAI Academy, and completes a five-part training programme aimed at boosting aquaculture productivity through better fish care.

The course teaches participants how to evaluate health indicators, identify common diseases, and distinguish between fish health and welfare. 

According to FAI, giving equal attention to both factors helps reduce stock losses while improving yields.

Global collaboration in training design

Dr Sara Barrento, FAI’s e-learning and aquaculture programme manager, said the training was shaped through international collaboration. 

“We visited farms in several regions to include real-life examples and to check how important technical concepts could work for everyone,” she explained. The course was developed with input from farmers and vets across South America, Africa and Asia.

To broaden its reach, the training has been released in six languages: English, Thai, Arabic, Portuguese, Spanish and Vietnamese. 

The full Tilapia Welfare Training Program is already available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Thai and Arabic, with Vietnamese to follow later this year. Participants can complete each module individually, earning certification, or take the full programme for broader recognition.

“We are delighted to offer such a range of courses, bringing every aspect of tilapia welfare, including environment, nutrition, behaviour, and health to those who influence fish well-being every day,” Barrento said.

Complementing tools for fish welfare

The new course complements FAI’s existing Tilapia Welfare App, which helps users monitor fish wellbeing through a scoring system based on key indicators. 

The app, launched in Kenya in April, has already been adopted by Egypt’s Kafr El Sheikh University as part of its curriculum.

Barrento emphasised that the broader programme reflects FAI’s mission to align science with practical skills. 

“Committed to improving the lives of farmed tilapia worldwide, we combine the latest science with practical skills to support both fish welfare and farmer success. By helping build more resilient and responsible farming businesses, our work contributes to better livelihoods and more sustainable food systems for all,” she said.

Both the new course and the full Tilapia Welfare Training Program remain free to access through FAI Academy.

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