Pangasius supply chains connecting Vietnamese farms to global retailers are complex and opaque. Improving supply chain transparency is essential for any meaningful welfare improvement in this high-volume species.
Pangasius welfare improvement faces significant supply chain challenges. The long distance between Vietnamese farms and end consumers, combined with multiple intermediaries, makes welfare verification difficult. Certification provides a framework but covers only a fraction of production. Price competition in a commodity fish market creates downward pressure on any practices that add cost. Consumer demand for welfare-certified pangasius and retailer commitments to source responsibly are the primary market forces that can improve supply chain welfare. Without price premium support for welfare-certified products, economic incentives favor cutting corners on practices consumers cannot see.