Basa

Little information is available on the traceability of feed. Pangasius are net producers of protein.There are currently no requirements for responsible ingredient sourcing within the VietGAP standard. All farmed Pangasius rely on formulated feeds with high levels of crop ingredients such as soybean and other seed meals, rice bran, tapioca, and wheat bran. The use of commercial pangasius aquafeed in countries such as Vietnam is the norm.There is little information available on feed traceability and sourcing of fish meal and fish oil in southeast Asia (including Vietnam). Typically, fishmeal and oils include high levels of unknown ‘trash fish’, in addition to better-known international sources including Peruvian anchovy and Chilean salmon by-products. However, pangasius require no fish oil and only a small amount of fishmeal in their diet and therefore, they are a net producer of protein, rather than a consumer, which may contribute towards future food security.

Pangasius farming in Vietnam have significant environmental impacts. Including, habitat alteration, no clear regulations for chemical usage and a large proportion of farms experiencing disease outbreaks.Pangasius aquaculture in Vietnam has a large environmental impact. Habitat alteration has taken place, but this is not in areas of high ecological sensitivity and has generally occurred through the conversion of intensive cropland, such as rice paddies or orchards, into ponds.There has also been a general decline in freshwater supplies in the Mekong Delta due to a combination of rising sea levels and abstraction of freshwater for both agriculture and aquaculture, including through pangasius cultivation.Pangasius farming areas in Vietnam have been identified as hot spots for antibiotic pollution due to the high intensity of their use on farms, combined with the discharge of untreated effluents. The rapid development of pangasius production has also preceded the development for regulations of the use of chemicals. According to national legislation, farmers are banned from dumping sludge into waterways and every farmer must set aside part of the farm site for treating wastewater before discharge. However, it has been suggested that this practice is nearly impossible, and that less than 10% of farms have sedimentation ponds.Juvenile pangasius are entirely hatchery based and no cleaner fish are used.In pangasius aquaculture, escapes can occur, however, data is lacking and the primary prevention method for interactions with wild populations is to reduce the genetic performance of farmed fish in the wild, which is reported to be effective.Data on predation rates and industry losses due to predation are currently not available for pangasius farming in the Mekong Delta, however, the instances of wildlife/predator mortalities are thought to be low. Species that may be targeted as nuisance predators are more than likely to be species common in the region, such as cormorants, and to some extent, reptilian species such as monitor lizards.Pangasius are subject to a range of diseases including parasites. The impact of parasite transfer to wild populations is unknown and there is little data available. It has been suggested that where wild fish occur in low densities, it will be difficult for parasitic populations to persist.Pathogenic disease outbreaks also occur and it is unclear if these threaten regional level operations due to data deficiencies. Little evidence is available to claim that disease episodes have increased or significantly impacted upon wild populations as a direct result of pangasius aquaculture. Edwardsiella ictulari is the most commercially serious and frequently occurs in fish of all ages. Around 70% of production sites suffer at least one outbreak of E. ictulari infection during a production cycle.

No adequate criteria are thought to be in place to cover animal welfare and the method of slaughter is unknown.There is a lack of data available on comprehensive welfare standards for farmed pangasius in Vietnam and the method of slaughter is not known.The VietGAP standard includes disinfection procedures, fallowing periods, maximum transportation time and water quality testing. However, there is not thought to be adequate criteria to cover animal welfare.

For uncertified pangasius production in Vietnam, some regulations are in place. However, these may only be partially effective.This assessment covers all uncertified pangasius production in Vietnam, however, as the Vietnamese Government has committed to 3rd party certification of all pangasius farms and has developed the VietGAP program as a stepping-stone towards this, this has been recognised in the assessment. 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.In Vietnam, there are 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. However, these may only be partially effective. It is thought that the use of chemicals is not being effectively regulated and they are being misused. Additionally, it is believed that illegal dumping of waste sludge is taking place.