Pangasius is among the world's most widely traded fish. Vietnamese intensive production raises welfare concerns about stocking density, water quality, and post-harvest handling.
Pangasius welfare in intensive Vietnamese production faces significant challenges. Extremely high stocking densities cause crowding stress, reduced oxygen availability, and competitive feeding. Poor water quality from organic waste accumulation causes chronic gill irritation and disease susceptibility. Post-harvest live transport and stunning practices are highly variable in their welfare outcomes, with some fish experiencing prolonged stress during processing. ASC certification addresses some environmental parameters but welfare-specific standards remain limited. Consumer demand for cheap fish drives production toward cost-minimising practices that compromise welfare.