To truly meet the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it is crucial to improve the treatment of aquatic animals affected by human activities. With this in mind, the African Union InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) and Ethical Seafood Research developed a factsheet to underscore the importance of aquatic animal welfare in Africa and raise awareness about the necessity of preserving it.

ESR & AU-IBAR set standard for aquatic animal welfare in Africa

Animal welfare is rarely discussed in the context of food systems in Africa, and even less so in the case of aquatic animal welfare. It was essential to highlight this issue and demonstrate its close link to food security and sustainable food production. Drawing insights from key AU-IBAR guiding documents on aquatic animals, including the Policy Framework and Reform Strategy and the Animal Welfare Strategy, Ethical Seafood Research and AU-IBAR developed a factsheet encompassing all facets of aquatic animal welfare in Africa, with a primary focus on capture fisheries and aquaculture. Both institutions also make specific acknowledgement of the significant welfare challenges facing aquatic animals involved in the ‘ornamental’ trade.

The factsheet represents a significant milestone, with AU-IBAR officially stating that animal welfare is also important for aquatic animals, flagging this as an issue of importance for the continent. Their endorsement is crucial for setting policy directions within the Member States, and has important implications considering that the African Union comprises the majority of countries in  Africa. It was not just the AU-IBAR secretariat that endorsed this initiative, but also the member states at the African Fisheries Reform Mechanism meeting in Kampala in March 2024.

As a dedicated advocate for animal welfare, I was thrilled to see  the joint factsheet by AU-IBAR and Ethical Seafood Research come to fruition. This whitepaper emphasises the crucial role of aquatic animals in both our food systems and ecosystems. ESR and AU-IBAR’s work highlights the importance of upholding aquatic animal welfare as a key component of sustainable food systems and ecosystem health.

By raising awareness and promoting comprehensive standards, we are empowering businesses and individuals to foster a more deliberate and respectful relationship with animals and nature. Together, we can inspire positive change and ensure the well-being of all creatures across Africa.

Key takeaways from the factsheet

• Ecosystem health: Aquatic animals play essential roles as prey and predators, maintaining food webs, nutrient cycling, and ecosystem stability.
• Sustainable fisheries and aquaculture: Limit overfishing, promote the handling of animals with care, minimise the capture of non-target animals, and incentivise the use of selective and appropriate fishing gear.
• Conservation: Focus on the protection of critical habitats, implementation of sustainable fishing practices, and combating illegal wildlife trade.
• Aquatic animal health and welfare standards: Develop and implement comprehensive standards and regulations that cover the health and welfare needs of this unique group of animals.
• Economic benefits: The health and welfare of aquatic animals lead to fewer mass mortality events, attract conscientious consumers, and create ecotourism opportunities.
• Education and awareness: Inspire positive change and encourage sustainable resource use.
• International cooperation: Sharing knowledge, best practices, and resources can help build capacity, develop ambitious regulations, and improve aquatic animal health and welfare standards across the continent.

For more detailed information, see the full factsheet.

Future steps and collaboration

Both parties are in agreement that the factsheet represents a crucial first step in the collaborative efforts between the two organisations. ESR has now set the wheels in motion by expressing a desire to join the African Platform for Animal Welfare, where we will work to ensure the comprehensive representation of aquatic animals within African food-related policy circles. Additionally, we are planning to propose the establishment of a Centre of Excellence dedicated to the topic of aquatic animal welfare.

We are honoured to have the endorsement of the AU-IBAR’s Director, Dr Huyam Salih, who has identified fish welfare as an area of growing importance. It was the Director’s insightful recommendation that led us to consider establishing this Centre of Excellence in Egypt, which would serve to highlight the Union’s commitment to advancing aquatic animal welfare across the continent.

Collaborating with Ethical Seafood Research on this initiative has been both rewarding and promising. We believe this marks the beginning of a fruitful partnership aimed at highlighting the critical role of ensuring the welfare of aquatic animals across Africa’s food systems. Knowledge translation and effective dissemination of these insights are crucial to fostering awareness and driving meaningful change in sustainable seafood practices regionally and globally.