Call for Research Proposals
Current Status: OPEN
Type: International Collaborative Projects
Process: Two stage; expression of interest followed by full proposal
With financial support from Coefficient Giving, the Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, is conducting a three-year project to research and support interventions to the farming, transport and slaughter of commercial farmed fish in Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia, with significant contribution to local and international markets. As part of this, it is inviting collaborative proposals from academics and others (e.g. NGOs, companies, public and private research institutions, retailers, associations), for multiparty international led research and innovation (R&I) projects (9-12 months duration) which meet the objectives and criteria set out in this call for proposals.
Countries: Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam
Project timeline: Projects should be implemented between 9 to 12 months
Budget: The total budget for this call is £250,000 and we expect to fund between 3 and 5 projects
Focused species: Commercial farmed fish only, with significant contribution to local and international markets. No Crustaceans.
Priority Thematic Areas of Focus:
During phase one of the AFWN project several areas of focus were identified that appear to have the highest potential to improve fish welfare:
Humane handling processes, particularly during harvesting, that reduce stress and stimulate better welfare.
Human slaughter practices, including stunning and killing across markets and species.
High welfare transport methods of live commercial fish to markets or processing plants.
Live animal holding systems in markets that reduce welfare issues.
Development of new and/or improved Operational Welfare Indicators (OWIs).
Participatory research that aims to:
Increase awareness and understanding of fish welfare issues, and how improvements in fish welfare can bring economic and/or societal benefit.
Better understand current narratives and perceptions of fish welfare and/or assess how religious beliefs impact on fish welfare improvements.
Eligibility and other criteria:
Projects should have a significant focus on international perspectives and involve a consortium of diverse partners and organisations, which could include commercial businesses, government and associated agencies, universities and research organisations, local (i.e. based within one of the target countries) and international (i.e. based in other countries across the globe) organisations with relevant expertise and an interest in aquaculture and the welfare of fish.
Include diverse perspectives and disciplines and involve local communities to ensure challenges and opportunities are fully understood, and that any unintended consequences are considered and mitigated.
Be led by an academic or research organisation with the capacity and capability to deliver the project and its desired results. There is no restriction on the location of the lead organisation, but projects should focus on improving fish welfare in the targeted Southeast Asian countries.
Be significantly focused on creating positive societal and/or economic benefit and impact, particularly to local business and community ecosystems, with clear pathways to enabling impact built into the project. The collaborative partners on the proposal should have a clear role to play in the pathways to creating positive impact.
Provide evidence or an estimate of the potential positive impacts to fish welfare, and how fish welfare will be improved as an outcome of the proposed project.
Ensure adherence to ethical principles and practices and gain ethical approval from the relevant committee/board/body, and that no additional pain or suffering is inflicted on any animal or being.
Deadlines:
Expressions of Interest: Must be submitted by 1st July 2026
Full Proposals (following feedback): Must be submitted by 5th August 2026
Expressions of Interest should be submitted using the Microsoft Word form, linked below. Full information concerning due diligence and contracting will be provided prior to preparation of full proposals. You are strongly advised to make use of the project concept development template (which is also linked below) to help with structuring the proposal, and to prompt consideration of relevant stakeholders, outputs and desired impact.
Previous calls under the Asian Fish Welfare Network Project
Use the following links to access details of previous calls under the “Improving Fish Welfare in Asia” project:
First Call for Research Project Proposals - Archived Page