Pangasius Welfare 2025: Progress and Challenges

Key Welfare Facts

ASC-certified pangasius farms showed improved water quality, lower antibiotic use, and reduced mortality rates.
Stocking density limits in certified systems are associated with measurably lower stress hormone levels in fish.
Slaughter welfare remains the most critical unresolved challenge, with stunning adoption still limited.
Consumer education campaigns linking pangasius welfare to certification labels are increasing certified product share.
Vietnamese government regulations strengthening antibiotic controls are reducing disease pressure at scale.
Ongoing challenges include uncertified small-farm production dominating the local market segment.

Welfare Assessment

Pangasius welfare progress since 2020 demonstrates that market-driven certification can drive meaningful improvements. Continuing to choose certified pangasius and advocating for stunning requirements at slaughter advances the most important remaining welfare improvements.

What You Can Do

Consistently choose ASC-certified pangasius to support welfare-positive market incentives
Advocate with retailers to stock only certified pangasius products
Support campaigns for stunning adoption at Vietnamese pangasius processing plants
Engage with import standards bodies to strengthen welfare requirements for pangasius entering key markets