Pangasius catfish from Vietnam dominates global white fish markets but faces welfare challenges from high stocking densities and limited welfare oversight in a major producing country.
Pangasius welfare represents a significant gap in the global seafood welfare landscape. The enormous volume of pangasius produced and consumed makes this a high-impact welfare issue, yet fish welfare standards in Vietnamese aquaculture are extremely limited. The environmental certification that provides the primary welfare signal to European consumers addresses water discharge and chemical use but not the welfare of the fish themselves during their lives or at slaughter. Improving pangasius welfare requires development of Vietnam-specific welfare standards, investment in affordable welfare assessment tools appropriate to developing country production contexts, and consumer and retailer pressure for transparency about welfare conditions in pangasius supply chains.