Promoting Fish Welfare and Building Capacity in Kenyan Aquaculture: Spotlight on AFIWEL Fellow Job Omweno

AFIWEL (Africa Fish Welfare) remains dedicated to promoting ethical, welfare-focused, and sustainable fish farming across Africa. As part of this mission, the AFIWEL Fellowship was launched to empower passionate professionals with the knowledge, tools, and networks needed to improve fish welfare in their countries. Through this Fellowship, talented individuals like Job Omweno are driving real change in aquaculture across Africa. We’re excited to share a recent achievement by one of our Fellows, whose work is helping improve fish farming practices and build skills in the region.

Meet AFIWEL Fellow: Job Omweno

Job Omweno serves as a part-time lecturer at the Department of Environment, Natural Resources, and Aquatic Sciences at Kisii University. He is a passionate fisheries expert currently working as a Sub County Fisheries Officer in Kisii, Kenya. With a Master’s degree in Fisheries (African Development Bank Scholar, 2018–2021), Job has focused his career on improving aquaculture through research on native tilapia species, new technologies, the use of microalgae and aquatic plants, alternative fish feeds, and fish welfare.

He is an author/co-author of over 20 research papers and three book chapters in Fisheries and Aquaculture and also serves as a peer reviewer for several academic journals and networks. Beyond his research, Job is committed to guiding young aquaculture professionals as a mentor in the World Aquaculture Society’s Student Association Mentor-Mentee Program. His work as a researcher, editor, and mentor highlights his deep commitment to advancing the field.

AFIWEL Fellow at the Kenya Tilapia Welfare Training Project Workshop

In March 2025, Job took part in the Kenya Tilapia Welfare Training Project Workshop, held on March 19th at the KMFRI Kisumu station in Kenya. The workshop, organized with Ethical Seafood Research (ESR), brought together county extension officers and aquaculture players to build skills on tilapia welfare in fish farming systems. The training aimed to improve fish health, raise the quality of food fish, and open up better market opportunities for Kenyan aquaculture products.

One of the highlights of the workshop was the hands-on training on the Tilapia Welfare App, a smart tool from FAI Farms (UK) designed to measure key fish welfare indicators in farms. As part of the event, Job guided other extension officers and stakeholders in using the app’s practical fish welfare tools. His AFIWEL Fellowship experience gave him valuable insights that helped strengthen the training.

The workshop wrapped up with a field trip to the Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA) farm, managed by Aquarech in Kibos, Kisumu County. Here, participants tested the Tilapia Welfare App in a working fish farm, turning classroom knowledge into real-world practice. This experience showed just how useful evidence-based tools can be for improving fish welfare in everyday farm management. The lessons learned from the Kenya Tilapia Welfare Training Project Workshop will help shape the upcoming Fish Welfare Training Guide for Kenya, an initiative being developed under the AFIWEL Fellowship. The guide will promote best practices for fish health, sustainability, and welfare in Kenya’s fish farming sector.

Job is currently developing a   Fish Welfare Training Guide for Kenya, a practical resource aimed at providing guidance on ethical and sustainable fish production and management, and raising aquatic and fish welfare standards across Kenya. As part of the AFIWEL scale-up, upcoming field activities in Kenya will further support this effort by piloting  the guide directly with farmers as well as stakeholder trainings, initiatives to promote public awareness and improve market access.

AFIWEL is proud to support Fellows like Job Omweno, who are leading important efforts in African aquaculture, driving innovation, building industry capacity, and improving fish welfare standards across the continent.