Basa
Pangasius bocourti & Pangasius hypophthalmus
What to check for
Location
All areas
Production method
Open net pen, freshwater
Certification
Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC)
Rating summary
The ASC standard certification addresses a number of issues of environmental concern in pangasius farming, the auditing of which requires farm inspections and standard enforcement. In general there are a number of issues of potential environmental impact associated with production, these include: habitat alteration; nutrient and organic pollution; escapes; interactions with local wildlife and enforcement of regulations. The ASC standard has criteria in place for animal welfare, but not for humane slaughter. Pangasius is an omnivore and as such is not heavily reliant on marine proteins and oils to form part of its diet, and the wild caught fish used to produce the feed is responsibly sourced. However, the source of vegetable ingredients is unknown. It is only by sourcing certified pangasius that you can be assured that the issues of critical environmental concern are being addressed.This rating is based on full compliance with certification requirements. Commercial buyers should therefore ensure that full compliance has been achieved in order for this rating to be applicable.Rating last updated December 2024.
How we worked out this Rating
Management
How aquaculture is regulated and how effective those regulations are is an important aspect of farmed fish production. We also look to see if aquaculture is included in broader environmental management plans. In this management section we also award scores for globally recognised certification standards, as certified seafood requires verification of environmental performance and traceability.
ASC standard for certified pangasius has criteria or country level regulations in place to address management of the sector. This assessment covers all ASC certified pangasius production in Vietnam. Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) in Vietnam is also underway in 8 coastal provinces in Vietnam and was incorporated in Vietnam’s Law of Planning in January 2018, this is still being developed.In Vietnam, in addition to the criteria within the ASC Pangasius standard, there are also regulations in place that cover Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), identification and protection of valuable habitats and species, use of land and water resources, use of chemicals including licensing, discharges including effluents and their impacts, biosecurity and disease management, and species introduction.
References
ASC. Aquaculture Stewardship Council. Available at https://www.asc-aqua.org [Accessed on 18.08.2024].
ASC, 2023. ASC Feed Standard Version 1.01. Jan 2023. Available at https://asc-aqua.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ASC-Feed-Standard_v1.01.pdf [Accessed on 18.08.2024].
ASC, 2016. Interim Feed Solution. Available at https://www.asc-aqua.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/ASC-Feed-Interim-solution-Marine-Ingredients_FINAL_20161213.pdf [Accessed on 18.08.2021].
ASC, 2019. ASC Pangasius Standard Version 1.2 - June 2019. Available at https://asc-aqua.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ASC-Pangasius-Standard_v1.2_Final.pdf [Accessed on 18.08.2024].
CBI, 2021. Entering the European market for pangasius. Available at https://www.cbi.eu/market-information/fish-seafood/pangasius/europe [Accessed on 28.03.2024].
De Silva, S. S. and Phuong, N. T., 2011. Striped catfish farming in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam: a tumultuous path to a global success. Reviews in Aquaculture. 3, pp. 45-73. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1753-5131.2011.01046.x [Accessed on 02.04.2024].
Dung, T. T., Ngoc, N. T. N., Thinh, N.Q., Thy, D. T. M., Tuan, N. A., Shinn, A. and Crumlish, M., 2008. Common diseases of Pangasius catfish farmed in Viet Nam. Global Aquaculture Advocate, 11:77-78. Available at: https://www.globalseafood.org/advocate/common-diseases-of-pangasius-catfish-farmed-in-vietnam/ [Accessed on 09.04.2024].
FAO, 2024. National Aquaculture Legislation Overview: Vietnam. Text by Murekezi, P.. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture. Rome. Available at: https://www.fao.org/fishery/en/legalframework/vn/en [Accessed on 09.04.2024].
FAO, 2022. The National Aquaculture development program for the period of 2021 -2030. Hanoi, August 16, 2022. Available at: https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/vie211903.pdf [Accessed on 09.04.2024].
Kurath, G. and Winton, J., 2011. Complex dynamics at the interface between wild and domestic viruses of finfish. Current Opinions in Virology, 1:73-80. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coviro.2011.05.010 [Accessed on 09.04.2024].
Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch, 2021. Pangasius. Vietnam. Production System – Ponds. Available at https://www.seafoodwatch.org/globalassets/sfw-data-blocks/reports/c/mba_seafoodwatch_catfish_vietnam_report.pdf [Accessed on 02.04.2024].
Nguyen, T. A. T. and Jolly, C. M., 2020. Global value chain and food safety and quality standards of Vietnam pangasius exports. Aquaculture reports 16(100256). Available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aqrep.2019.100256 [Accessed on 09.04.2024].
Quyen, N. T. K., Hien, H. V., Khoi, L. N. D., Yogi, N. and Riple, A. K. L., 2020. Quality Management Practices of Intensive Whiteleg Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) Farming: A Study of the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Sustainability. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/su12114520 [Accessed on 02.04.2024].
Seafish, 2024. Pangasius – Pangasianodon hypophthalmus . Available at: https://www.seafish.org/responsible-sourcing/aquaculture-farming-seafood/species-farmed-in-aquaculture/aquaculture-profiles/pangasius/escapes-and-introductions/ [Accessed on 28.03.2024].
Subodh Pokhrel, Dang Thi Hoang Oanh, 2021. Investigation on common diseases of striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) farms in An Giang province and Can Tho City of the Mekong Delta Vietnam. Int J Fish Aquat Stud. 9(3):110-116. Available at: https://doi.org/10.22271/fish.2021.v9.i3b.2492 Accessed on [09.04.2024].
Tran Duc, T., Dang Hoai, N., Nguyen Van, T., Cao Thi, T. T., Vu Duy, V., Duong Thanh, N., Nguyen Dang, N., & Nguyen Thi, K. A., 2023. The process of establishing marine spatial planning maps in Vietnam. Vietnam Journal of Marine Science and Technology, 23(1), 1–18. Available at: https://doi.org/10.15625/1859-3097/18263 [Accessed on 09.04.2024].
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