Basa

Pangasius farmed in Vietnam have several environmental issues associated with their production, however the GSA BAP Standard mitigates some of these issues reducing their 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. The GSA BAP standard requires water levels in nearby wells to be monitored at least annually during the dry season and the use of water from natural sources to not cause ecological damage.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. The GSA BAP standard limits 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. In addition, the GSA BAP farm standard criteria requires farms to monitor their effluents to limit nitrogen and phosphorus to specific levels to reduce the impact on the environment.Juvenile pangasius are entirely hatchery based and no cleaner fish are used. Additionally, the BAP hatchery standard states that hatcheries cannot source or stock wild juveniles to supply the grow out farms.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. Escapes are also limited by criteria outlined in the GSA BAP farm standard which requires screens and nets to be installed and all holding, transport and culture systems to be designed operated and maintained to minimize the release of animals.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. The GSA Standard encourages non-lethal control. However, lethal control methods can be used on species that are not listed as threatened, endangered or protected.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. However, the GSA BAP standard has biosecurity measures in place and these measures are thought to be sufficient in mitigating the potential impacts of parasite transfer.

The GSA BAP Standard outlines practices to ensure the animal welfare and humane slaughter of pangasius. The animal welfare practices include a maximum biomass limit, regular inspections, and management practices to avoid stress. Humane slaughter practices are also in place, which include humane methods of stunning.

For pangasius production in Vietnam certified to the GSA BAP standard, all regulations are in place and thought to be fully effective.This assessment covers all pangasius certified to the GSA BAP 3* standard, produced in Vietnam. 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.The National Aquaculture development program for Vietnam 2021 to 2030 was approved in August 2022. The project’s overall goal is to develop a synchronous, safe, effective, sustainable, and eco-friendly marine aquaculture. However, Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) in Vietnam is still in development.