Pangasius (striped catfish) is one of the most traded fish globally, primarily farmed in Vietnam. Welfare and sustainability standards in this high-volume industry are under increasing scrutiny.
Pangasius welfare in intensive Vietnamese aquaculture is compromised by extremely high stocking densities, poor water quality management in some operations, and virtually no attention to slaughter welfare. The tolerance of the species for poor conditions has historically been used to justify intensive management rather than prompting welfare improvement. As with other farmed fish species, the growing scientific consensus on fish sentience means that business-as-usual approaches require critical reassessment. Certification schemes addressing pangasius have focused primarily on environmental impacts and social standards; explicit welfare criteria including density limits, water quality standards, and slaughter methods are the next frontier for welfare-focused certification in this sector.