This report was written in collaboration with Ethical Seafood Research, which helped with the initial scoping with the help of Melinda Jackson from New York University (see their report on Animal Advocacy in Egypt).
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) recently released Guidelines for Sustainable Aquaculture in response to the rapid expansion of the industry. Aquaculture is the fastest-growing food production sector in the world, and its growth is driven by protein demand, scientific progress, technological innovations and investment.
Ethical Seafood Research is committed to supporting responsible aquaculture through evidence-based policy development, industry partnerships and rigorous scientific inquiry. Our involvement in the Zanzibar aquaculture strategy underscores our belief that ethical aquaculture is not just an environmental imperative, but a pathway to socioeconomic transformation in coastal communities.
In his guest article for Animal Charity Evaluators, Wasseem Emam examines the evolving landscape of animal advocacy across Egypt. He discusses the cultural perceptions that shape local attitudes toward animal welfare, as well as the growing number of grassroots initiatives focused on community education and rescue efforts.
In his guest article for the Young Aquaculture Society, Wasseem Emam explores the evolving landscape of fish welfare in various African regions. He highlights the importance of sustainable practices, the challenges facing local aquaculture, and how collaborative efforts can drive meaningful change.
2024 was a pivotal year for Ethical Seafood Research (ESR), marked by significant strides in our mission to improve the welfare of aquatic animals. From Egypt to Kenya, India to Zanzibar, we’re impacting the lives of millions of fish!
The end goal is to implement humane slaughter techniques, establish best practice protocols and deliver tailored training programs for the mobile harvest teams to help scale up these techniques.
Our groundbreaking initiative with FAI has positively impacted the lives of ✨over 260 million individual fishes✨, representing a significant advancement in the welfare of farmed Nile tilapia in Egypt.
My forefathers are from the Egyptian Nile Delta, an area that would have been a total desert had it not been for the River Nile. Thanks to abundant freshwater resources coming from the subtropical parts of Africa, a thriving civilisation has flourished in this area for thousands of years. The Nile flows through the entire country running from south to north before spilling into the Mediterranean Sea. My Middle Eastern heritage means that I have always understood water scarcity and have therefore deeply appreciated the importance of water resources.
Zanzibar, a picturesque archipelago in the Western Indian Ocean, is keen to become a leader in the Blue Economy. In line with this vision, and under the aquaculture pillar of the Blue Economy framework, Ethical Seafood Research was retained by the Ministry of Blue Economy and Fisheries to develop a sustainable and ethical aquaculture strategy in close consultation with local stakeholders.
