Pangasius catfish farming in Vietnam and Southeast Asia has improved substantially under certification pressure but welfare challenges remain at scale.
Pangasius welfare in uncertified farms has historically been compromised by extremely high stocking densities, poor water quality, and disease pressure. Certified farms have substantially better welfare outcomes through improved density management and water quality standards. The scale of pangasius production means that even marginal improvements in welfare standards per fish translate to enormous welfare improvements at the population level. Consumer demand for ASC-certified pangasius has been one of the most effective welfare improvement mechanisms in this sector.