About the AFIWEL Program

About Us

The Africa Fish and Aquaculture Welfare (AFIWEL) Program is a pan-African initiative that is supporting ethical, welfare-driven, safe and sustainable aquaculture production systems across Africa.

The project is a scale-up of our previous successful pilot activities in Nigeria to research and establish a framework for education, capacity building, policy, and implementation of good fish health and welfare practices into aquaculture production systems. The project also hosts the AFIWEL Fellowship and the bi-annual AQUAWEL Conference.

How the AFIWEL Program Started

The AFIWEL Program was established by One Health and Development Initiative (OHDI), a non-profit organization that works to address correlated issues of human, animal, and ecosystem health using the integrated “One Health” approach

Animal Welfare is one of our core areas of work which we recognize as an important contributor to One Health and sustainable development.

Our Focus Area

Under this focus area, we have been implementing several activities to advance and promote fish welfare and its integration into fish production systems. These include the publication of our Fish Welfare Training Guide, the development of an online training course on fish welfare, training programs for fish farmers and aquaculture stakeholders in public and private sector, and public awareness activities. While several of these interventions have been piloted in Nigeria, they are now being scaled to key aquaculture-producing countries in Africa through the Africa Fish and Aquaculture Welfare (AFIWEL) Program.

Why 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

Healthy aquatic populations are critical for food security, especially as Africa’s demand for nutritious, responsibly-sourced food grows.

Sustainable Stewardship

Ethical fish farming isn’t just about production; it’s about preserving aquatic health, ensuring ecosystem balance, and safeguarding the natural habitats that sustain life.

Economic Growth with Responsibility

Investing in robust, welfare-focused aquaculture systems improve trade relations, drives market expansion, and sustains livelihoods

Our Implementation Strategies

Research: We conduct and support research projects that explore the best methods for improving fish health and well-being, reducing stress, and promoting welfare-friendly aquaculture practices.

Policy Advocacy and Integration: Integrating fish and aquatic animal welfare into national and regional policies, sustainable aquaculture strategies, and blue economy frameworks.

Stakeholder Engagement and Capacity Building: Building the knowledge, skills, and networks required to implement welfare and ethical aquaculture practices at scale.

Market Access and Value Chain Support (AFIWEL SAFE Model): To operationalize the AFIWEL SAFE framework, creating welfare-compliant, traceable supply chains that improve farmers’ access to compliant local and international markets.

Consumer Awareness: To increase public understanding of fish welfare, food safety, and the value of ethically produced fish, driving demand and cultural shifts.