Pangasius aquaculture has seen significant improvement through certification programmes addressing environmental and some welfare concerns.
Pangasius certification has driven meaningful improvements in water quality and reduced chemical use, with indirect welfare benefits for fish through improved environmental conditions. However, certification schemes for pangasius focus more strongly on environmental sustainability and food safety than fish welfare specifically. Developing welfare-specific indicators for pangasius, analogous to the operational welfare indicators developed for salmon, would enable more direct welfare improvement. Consumer demand for certified pangasius in European markets provides economic incentive for producers to meet certification requirements.