Channel catfish are farmed extensively in the United States and pangasius catfish in Southeast Asia. Their welfare in intensive pond systems is poorly regulated despite large production volumes.
Catfish welfare in intensive aquaculture is largely unaddressed by existing certification frameworks. Channel catfish and pangasius are produced at enormous scale with minimal welfare standards. Their specific welfare needs - dim lighting, bottom habitat complexity, adequate oxygen, stable temperature - are rarely met in intensive pond systems. Pangasius production in Vietnam has faced scrutiny for antibiotic overuse but welfare is a less visible part of the certification conversation. The scale of production - hundreds of billions of fish annually across both species - means even small welfare improvements would benefit enormous numbers of sentient animals.