Fish Welfare Initiative
in India
India’s aquaculture sector is vast—and so is the opportunity to improve the welfare of farmed fishes.
2nd
largest fish farming country in the world.
farmed fishes live in India each year — one of the highest numbers globally.
> 6 billion
of farmed fishes are raised across India.
>100
species
Our Work in India
Fish Welfare Initiative began its work in India in 2020. Since then, we’ve focused on two cores area:
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Research & Development: We conduct field-based research to identify and pilot the next generation of fish welfare interventions. Current areas of focus include satellite-enabled water quality monitoring, feed fortification, and pre-slaughter stunning.
Learn more on our blog.
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Implementation: Through our flagship farm program—the Alliance for Responsible Aquaculture (ARA)—we partner with over 100 fish farms in Andhra Pradesh to implement improvements in water quality and stocking density, directly benefiting millions of fishes each year.
Learn more below.
Our Farm Program: The Alliance for Responsible Aquaculture
The Alliance for Responsible Aquaculture (ARA) is our primary implementation program in India. Through the ARA, we partner with fish farmers to improve fish welfare in aquaculture. The ARA started in 2021 and we now work with over 160 farms to support an aquaculture industry that is
Farmers are provided with free-of-cost water quality testing and improvement services.
MORE FAIR
Fishes in higher-welfare systems require fewer chemical inputs, like antibiotics.
MORE NATURAL
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Fishes have improved living conditions, and suffer less from disease and mass mortality.
MORE KIND
Why We Improve Fish Welfare
We work with Indian major carp farmers across Andhra Pradesh to enhance practices on their farms to enable higher fish welfare. We believe that improving fish welfare is right for thriving businesses, healthy societies, sustainable environments, and, most importantly, fishes. Learn more about why fish welfare matters.
Our work also plays an important role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
How We Improve Fish Welfare
Farmers joining the ARA commit to a stocking density limit and keeping water quality within ranges that are supporting fishes’ wellbeing. These changes allow us to reduce stress, enhance resilience, and ultimately improve fish welfare. The following graph outlines how we work with farmers to improve water quality.
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Our Impact
168
Farms committed to the ARA
2,860,000
Fishes supported through welfare interventions
7,417
Total water quality analysis conducted
93%
Water quality improvements after the implementation of corrective actions
Pictures from the Field
ARA Resources
Our Farmer Commitment
Water Quality Corrective Actions
For Nellore:
For Eluru:
Are you interested in joining our program? Reach out to our Program Manager.
Are you a research institution or corporation interested in exploring the benefits of fish welfare? Reach out to us to explore corporate and institutional partnerships.