Pangasius (Basa/swai catfish) is one of the world's most traded fish, farmed at enormous scale in Vietnam's Mekong Delta, with welfare standards that vary considerably across production systems.
Pangasius welfare is compromised in many production systems by high density, poor water quality, and inadequate slaughter methods. The scale of production - billions of fish annually - means even small per-fish welfare improvements represent enormous aggregate welfare gains. Consumer selection of ASC-certified pangasius supports better standards, though coverage remains incomplete. Asking retailers about their sourcing standards and demanding welfare improvements from suppliers is a meaningful advocacy action.