Africa Fish and Aquaculture Welfare (AFIWEL) Program
Advancing Ethical, Safe, and Sustainable Aquaculture in Africa
Why Fish and Aquatic Animal Welfare Matters
Sentience & Compassion
Fish and other farmed aquatic animals are sentient beings capable of feeling pain, stress, and discomfort.
Food Security with Integrity
The welfare of aquatic populations are critical for food security, especially as Africa’s demand for nutritious, responsibly-sourced food grows.
Sustainable Stewardship
Ethical and sustainable aquaculture encompasses responsible farming, preserving aquatic health, integrating climate-smart practices, and supporting ecosystem balance.
Economic Growth with Responsibility
Investing in robust welfare, safety, and sustainability-aligned aquaculture value chains that improve trade relations, drive market expansion, and sustain livelihoods
About Us
The AFIWEL Program is a pan-African initiative that supports ethical, welfare-driven, safe, and sustainable aquatic life and production systems across Africa. The project is implemented by One Health and Development Initiative (OHDI), and it is a scale-up of previous successful pilot activities to research and establish a framework for education, capacity building, market access, and implementation of good fish welfare, health, and sustainability practices into aquaculture production systems.
The project also hosts the AFIWEL Fellowship and the biennial AQUAWEL Conference.
AQUAWEL Conference
The Africa Aquatic Animal Welfare (AQUAWEL) Conference is Africa’s premier platform dedicated to advancing fish and aquatic animal welfare. The inaugural edition was held on July 17–18, 2025, setting the stage for a biennial gathering of experts, policymakers, farmers, and innovators. Together, they shape ethical, sustainable, and climate-resilient aquaculture systems across the continent. From cutting-edge research to policy action, the AQUAWEL Conference is driving Africa’s leadership in building a compassionate and thriving blue economy.
AFIWEL Fellowship
The AFIWEL Fellowship is a pan-African capacity building, community building and field implementation program for professionals with skills and expertise in fisheries and aquaculture. The first cohort of AFIWEL Fellows was established in January 2025 with focus on the following countries: Nigeria, Uganda, Ghana, Tunisia, Kenya, Zambia, Malawi, and South Africa (which are 8 of the highest fish-producing countries in Africa)Â
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