Pangasius catfish farmed in Vietnam and exported globally face welfare challenges from extreme stocking densities and inconsistent water quality management.
Pangasius farming at extremely high densities creates conditions that, while tolerated physiologically, likely represent chronic stress. Fish in overcrowded conditions compete for food and space, show increased aggression-related injury, and have reduced immunological function. As evidence of fish sentience grows, the welfare implications of farming hundreds of millions of pangasius in extreme density deserve serious attention and regulatory response.