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Why Fish Welfare?
There are a lot of farmed fishes.
Around 3 to 14 billion fishes are farmed in India each year. That’s almost ten times the number of all other farmed vertebrate animals in India combined!
Fishes suffer in farms.
Conditions for these animals are often poor: Many fishes live in farms with overcrowding, poor water quality, and high rates of disease.
We have a duty to care.
As Indians, we have a fundamental duty to protect and improve the natural environment and to care for all animals. Fishes, even though different from us, are also sentient animals that feel pain and emotion and deserve our respect.
Fish welfare benefits farmers and the environment.
It’s not just about the animals—by treating farmed fishes better, we decrease disease and mortality rates on the farm, and reduce the chemical burden on the surrounding environment, promoting more sustainable business and a healthier society.
Our Research
Small-Scale, Supplementary Feeding Test
We conducted one small-scale test to investigate how fishes' growth and the water quality in farms may be affected by reducing supplemental feeding. This update is designed to inform our stakeholders of our approach to understanding the welfare of fishes better as well as to share our progress. See our full results here.
Survey of 505 Fish Farmers in India
We analyzed the results of a large survey of Indian aquaculture farmers that we conducted in March 2023. This investigation has strong potential to help us adapt our Fish Welfare Standard based on shared characteristics across farms, variations across the surveyed regions, and the changing needs of farmed fishes in Andhra Pradesh, India. See our full report here.
Improving Fish Pellet Nutrition
We launched a study to enhance the nutritional value of de-oiled rice bran (DORB), a common feed for IMC farmers during the grow-out stage. The study aims to provide farmers with affordable, nutritionally dense pelleted feed that improves the pond ecosystem, reduces input costs, and promotes better fish health and growth. We will share the full report once it's available.
Donate
Our work is only made possible by the support of many generous donors. Donate to Fish Welfare Initiative India Foundation to support it.
Currently, only Indian donors are eligible to donate. To donate, please contact us and we will set up a bank transfer.
Thank you for helping us to reduce the suffering of farmed fishes!
