Improving fish welfare in low- and middle-income countries is often framed as a trade-off with productivity. Yet in Egypt, the world’s sixth largest producer of farmed *tilapia*, we find evidence that better welfare can go hand-in-hand with improved performance and farmer resilience. This work presents a One Welfare case study of efforts to improve *tilapia* welfare in semi-intensive pond systems in the Nile Delta, where farms are increasingly transitioning to more intensive practices in response to climate and economic pressures.
We describe the rollout of the FAI Tilapia Welfare App—a farmer-friendly digital tool for scoring fish welfare indicators on site—and the lessons learned from its uptake and use across small and medium farms. Drawing on survey, observational and farmer feedback data collected by Ethical Seafood Research and partners from 2022 to 2025, we explore the links between welfare scores, farm conditions, and farmer perceptions, and assess the tool’s practical impact on management. The results suggest that improvements in welfare, such as reduced handling stress and more humane fasting and harvest practices, are feasible with minimal investment and can be aligned with existing biosecurity and quality goals.
We argue that centring welfare within a One Welfare framework—considering fish, farmer and environmental wellbeing together—helps build a stronger case for change. This approach is relevant not just to Egypt but to other African aquaculture contexts facing similar intensification trajectories.