Pangasius (striped catfish) is one of the most traded fish globally, and supply chain traceability is essential for verifying welfare and environmental standards in its complex production chains.
Pangasius welfare is shaped by the extreme stocking densities that characterize much of its production. High density creates competition for food, elevated cortisol from chronic crowding stress, and water quality challenges that compromise gill function and dissolved oxygen levels. The length and complexity of the supply chain between Vietnamese farms and global consumers makes independent welfare verification challenging. Certification schemes provide some assurance but welfare-specific criteria in current pangasius standards are less developed than for salmon or trout. Consumer demand for higher welfare standards, when coupled with credible traceability systems, can drive meaningful improvement across the supply chain.