Pangasius catfish farming in Vietnam and the Mekong Delta region produces millions of tonnes for global export. Welfare standards in this industry are underdeveloped but improving.
Pangasius catfish are among the most-consumed fish globally, yet their welfare receives minimal attention in producing regions or consumer markets. The species' physiological hardiness - it can breathe atmospheric oxygen and survive low-oxygen water - has led to production systems with extreme stocking densities that would be recognized as welfare-compromising in other species. At very high densities, fish experience chronic stress, fin damage, and elevated disease pressure. Consumer demand for welfare-certified pangasius, though nascent, can drive meaningful change in this large industry.