Conducting the survey with a local fish farmer
The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) has successfully completed a research project examining perceptions and behaviours concerning farmed fish welfare in Thailand. This project, titled Fish Welfare in Focus: Factors Influencing Farmed Fish Welfare Decisions in Thai Aquaculture Businesses, was funded by Open Philanthropy through the University of Stirling and has yielded valuable insights into how cultural factors, religious beliefs, and scientific understanding influence attitudes toward aquatic animal welfare in Thailand's thriving aquaculture sector.
Background and Significance
Thailand's aquaculture industry plays a crucial role in ensuring food security and driving economic development of the country. Fish have long held cultural significance in Thailand—as evidenced by ancient inscriptions from the Sukhothai Kingdom stating, "there is fish in the water and rice in the fields"—which reflect the enduring prominence of fish in Thai culture and diet.
Despite this deep-rooted cultural importance, the welfare of farmed fish has not received the same level of attention as that of terrestrial animals. This project was developed to address that disparity by investigating how various stakeholders perceive and act regarding the welfare of farmed fish. The study focuses on two species of major economic importance: Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii).
Dr. Krishna R. Salin, Chair of the Aquaculture and Aquatic Resources Management Program at AIT and the Principal Investigator, Dr. Amara Yakupitiyage, Adjunct Professor coordinating the project, and Prof. Kyoko Kusakabe, AIT’s gender expert emphasized the project's significance: "Understanding stakeholder perceptions of fish welfare is crucial for developing effective policies and practices that can improve the lives of billions of farmed aquatic animals while supporting sustainable aquaculture development in Thailand." Partners of the project included the Thai Tilapia Association and Aquaculture Innovation Centre, Singapore.
Research Methodology and Approach
The research focused on various provinces in Central Thailand, selected for the diversity of their aquaculture practices. These provinces host thousands of fish farms, for example, Pathum Thani has over 4,000 farms, while Ayutthaya has more than 3,800 tilapia farms and nearly 300 freshwater prawn farms.
Women take a leading role in Thai aquaculture
The research team employed a multi-method approach to data collection, including direct observations at fish farms, in-person and telephone interviews with farmers, traders, and government officials, internet surveys with consumers, and analysis of secondary data from Thai and English language literature. This comprehensive approach allowed the team to gather diverse perspectives across the aquaculture value chain, with particular attention to how gender, religion, cultural beliefs, and scientific understanding influence attitudes toward fish welfare.
Cultural and Religious Dimensions of Fish Welfare
One of the project's most compelling aspects was examining how Thailand's rich cultural and religious landscape influences attitudes toward fish welfare. In Thai tradition, distinctions are often made between land and aquatic animals, shaped by a blend of animistic and local beliefs. For example, some animistic interpretations regard fish as "freely given gift by the water spirit for food" for Thai people, which can affect how welfare practices are perceived and treated. These cultural perspectives—alongside scientific uncertainties about fish sentience—may create a nuanced and complex backdrop for the development of welfare policies.
Conducting interviews with Thai fish farmers
Policy Landscape and Future Directions
A key project outcome was developing effective communication strategies to raise awareness about fish welfare across different stakeholder groups. The research will further explore the potential for highlighting aquatic animals in the Thai legislation and incorporating fish welfare aspects into Good Aquaculture Practices (GAP). Through collaboration with the Department of Fisheries and other stakeholders, the project initiated important discussions towards developing a national policy framework for aquatic animal welfare standards. These efforts represent a significant step toward recognizing the welfare needs of fish farmed in Thailand.
Tilapia farmer with AIT staff presenting a souvenir