We believe in empowering local organizations and corporations 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 through local markets in the informal economy. Our collaboration with local organizations enables positive change in farming conditions on the ground, while our collaboration with corporations financially supports these changes.

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.

The Partnership

In January 2021, Gramodaya Trust and Fish Welfare Initiative partnered to build mutual local support for their programming and investigate improved aquaculture practices in the West Godavari district.

Srinivas Chekuri, Founder of Gramodaya Trust, conversing with Karthik Pulugurtha, Managing Director of Fish Welfare Initiative India

The Organization

SAGE is a sustainable living brand that includes a permaculture farm (Baby Elephant Farm), store, and organic cafes in Hyderabad, India. Launched in 2015, SAGE is uniquely positioned among food businesses for its commitment to sustainability and animal welfare and its traceable farm-to-fork strategy. The Baby Elephant Farm supplies the store and cafes with a variety of organically grown and raised plant and animal products.

Karthik Pulugurtha, FWI India Managing Director, presents Kavitha Mantha, CEO of SAGE, with a certificate shortly after SAGE formally committed to improve fish welfare.

The Partnership

In September 2021, SAGE committed to maintaining maximum stocking densities of 1500 fish/acre and working with FWI to implement other welfare improvements, including monitoring water quality, reducing handling, and exploring pre-slaughter stunning. SAGE is making these changes immediately for all the farmed fish they sell.

Bhavi Aqua and Fish FPO

The Organization

Bhavi Aqua and Fish Farmers Producer Company Limited is a private company incorporated in 2017. The company is focused on empowering farmers in Nellore via developing sustainable production systems. They provide access to knowledge and technological resources to all the members of the FPO. Currently, Bhavi is working with hundreds of farmers across Nellore.

The Partnership

Together with Bhavi Aqua and Fish FPO we aim to improve the well-being of fish and provide traceability to fish products produced in higher welfare systems. Bhavi will also help FWI engage more farmers in our project locations on the ground. Our traceability project includes the development of an app to trace higher welfare fish products, though the timelines on this remain uncertain. The implementation of this commitment will increase animal welfare and food safety across Bhavi’s supply chain.

Bhupesh Reddy (Founder and CEO, Gunapati’s), Haven King-Nobles (Co-Founder and Director of Operations, Fish Welfare Initiative), Karthik Pulugurtha (Managing Director, Fish Welfare Initiative India Foundation), and Prasad Reddy (Chairman, Gunapati’s) after formally committing to collaborate to advance fish welfare.

Sir C. R. Reddy College

The Organization

Sir C.R. Reddy College is a prominent institution of higher learning located in the Eluru District of Andhra Pradesh. With a high commitment to developing practical application-oriented courses, the institution aims to instill students with values to shape rounded development. It offers courses that prepare many students to become aquaculture technicians.

The Partnership

One of the primary foci of our partnership with Sir C.R. Reddy College is to provide students with training on welfare issues that concern fish in aquaculture systems. In turn, Sir C.R. Reddy College will provide FWI access to their laboratories. Furthermore, the collaboration gives FWI access to C.R. Reddy's researchers & faculty to enhance fish welfare research in India.

Our Managing Director, Karthik Pulugurtha, presenting a token of appreciation to C.R. Reddy College representatives: Sirisha Sorna (HOD, Fisheries, C. R. Reddy College), Vishnu Mohan (Correspondent, C. R. Reddy College), Dr. K. A. Rama Raju (Principal of Science, C. R. Reddy College).

Adikavi Nannaya University

The Organization

Adikavi Nannaya University, named after the first Telugu poet—Nannaya, was established to serve students from the East and West Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh, India. It consists of 4 college departments on the main campus and has affiliations with nearly 450 colleges across the state.

The Partnership

FWI’s MoU with Adikavi Nannaya University opens up avenues for joint research initiatives and projects on higher welfare aquaculture. FWI will also host lectures and training sessions to sensitize students to fish welfare issues in aquaculture systems. Students of the university will also gain access to internship and experience-building opportunities.

Prof. K. Ramaneswari; Principal of University College of Science and Technology, Prof. M. Jagannadha; Vice Chancellor of Adikavi Nannaya University, and Karthik Pulugurtha; Managing Director of FWI India pose for a photo after signing a partnership agreement. 

Fipola

The Organization

Fipola is a start-up meat retail corporation. It launched into India’s unorganized meat sector in 2016 with the farm-to-fork model to ease consumer concerns over quality, hygiene, and availability. The chain has over a hundred stores to its name across South India and plans to grow into 250 stores across India by 2023-24.

The Partnership

In July 2022, Fipola became the first Indian meat retailer to commit to include fish welfare in its procurement policy. Leading up to this inclusion, Fipola will also conduct a trial procurement run with the help of FWI India’s affiliated Alliance for Responsible Aquaculture farms. This partnership will help us understand and address market linkage gaps for higher welfare fish.

Sunil Tandon, Vice President of Fipola Retail, with FWI's Managing Director, Karthik Pulugurtha, after signing an MoU to include fish welfare in Fipola's procurement policy.

Captain Fresh

The Organization

Captain Fresh, a business-to-business platform, uses technology to deliver India’s fastest harvest-to-retail fresh fish and seafood. The company tracks the shortest path from the seller to the buyer, with quality checks and traceability along the way.

The Partnership

As a technology-driven business, Captain Fresh is reimagining the future of fresh fish and seafood. To this end, the company has committed to including fish welfare in its procurement policy and will also be conducting a trial procurement run with Alliance for Responsible Aquaculture farms. This partnership has the potential to speed up the reality of traceability and welfare across the fish supply chain in the Indian market.

FWI India team meeting with the Captain Fresh Team, led by Saichand Potluri in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh.

Full Agreements

See the full partnership agreements:

• Gramodaya Trust

• SAGE

• Bhavi Aqua and Fish FPO

• Sir C. R. Reddy College

• Adikavi Nannaya University

• Fipola

• Captain Fresh

Become a Fish Welfare Initiative Partner

We’re interested in connecting with more NGOs and corporations in India and those who have an interest in animal welfare. If you’re from such an entity, please reach out.

​

To learn more about the benefits of fish welfare for industry, sustainability, and public health, see Why Fish Welfare.