We believe in empowering local organizations to improve the lives of fish
and create a more sustainable foundation for rural livelihoods.
Find out who partners with us and become a partner yourself.
In India, as in other similar countries, most fish are sold not through massive corporations but rather through local markets. Our collaboration with local organizations allows us to influence farming conditions on the ground. We believe this to be the most reliable avenue currently available for improving the well-being of farmed fish in India.
Gramodaya Trust
The Organization
Gramodaya Trust operates in the state of Andhra Pradesh and works to enable sustainable and just livelihoods for farmers. It does so by empowering farmer collectives and producer organizations, assisting with the livelihoods of the poor in rural areas and developing resilience to climate change. Gramodaya Trust was launched by Mr. Srinivas Chekuri in 2015, and currently works with thousands of local farmers, including several hundred fish farmers.
Srinivas Chekuri, Founder of Gramodaya Trust, conversing with Karthik Pulugurtha, Managing Director of Fish Welfare Initiative India
The Partnership
In January 2021, Gramodaya Trust and Fish Welfare Initiative partnered to undertake a pilot study examining the impacts of higher welfare production methods. Following the study, from 2022 to 2026, FWI will support Gramodaya Trust in expanding higher welfare production methods to at least 50 new farms per year.
Farmers supported with higher welfare farming methods: 250
Fishes expected to lead a better life (estimate): 1-8 million
Association for the Rural Development
The Organization
Association for the Rural Development (ARD) is a service organization that works to assist aquaculture farmers and marginalized groups and communities in Andhra Pradesh. ARD launched in 2001 to protect runaway children, and has since expanded its programming to also work with tribal communities, impoverished people, and women and girls. ARD currently influences several thousand fish farmers.
Sheik Basheer, Executive Secretary of ARD, with Karthik Pulugurtha, MD of FWI India, in front of one of the fish farms ARD works with in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh.
The Partnership
In March 2021, ARD partnered with Fish Welfare Initiative to take part in FWI's study examining the impacts of higher welfare production methods. Following the study, from 2022 to 2026, FWI will support ARD in expanding higher welfare production methods to at least 50 new farms per year.
Farmers supported with higher welfare farming methods: 250
Fishes expected to lead a better life (estimate): 1-12 million
Full Agreements
See the full partnership agreements:
Become a Fish Welfare Initiative Partner
We’re interested in connecting with more organizations that work with fish farmers in India and who have an interest in animal welfare. If you’re from such an organization, please reach out.
To learn more about the benefits of fish welfare for industry, sustainability, and public health, see Why Fish Welfare.