Pangasius catfish are farmed in enormous quantities in Southeast Asia, with welfare outcomes heavily influenced by pond management, stocking density, and harvest practices.
Pangasius are frequently assumed to be low-welfare-concern fish because of their tolerance for poor water quality, but tolerance is not the same as preference or absence of suffering. Research demonstrates that pangasius show stress responses, pain sensitivity, and reduced welfare at high densities even when they survive. Water quality affects immune function, disease susceptibility, and behavior regardless of physiological tolerance. Pre-slaughter stunning using electrical or percussive methods is feasible at commercial scale and should become standard practice. Improving pangasius welfare is tractable: this is a highly concentrated industry where engaging major producers or retailers creates leverage over large numbers of animals.