Basa
Pangasius bocourti & Pangasius hypophthalmus
What to check for
Location
Mekong Delta
Production method
Open net pen, freshwater
Rating summary
Pangasius that are not farmed to any environmental production standards (uncertified) cannot be verified to address several issues of environmental concern, due to the lack of auditing which requires farm inspections to check compliance against production standard criteria. In general, there are several issues associated with production, these include: habitat alteration; nutrient and organic pollution; escapes; interactions with local wildlife and enforcement of regulations. Pangasius are omnivores and as such, are not heavily reliant on marine proteins and oils to form part of its diet. However, the fish used to produce feed are currently not certified as being responsibly managed or sustainable. It is only by sourcing certified pangasius that you can be assured that the issues of critical environmental concern are being addressed.Rating last updated April 2024.
Technical consultation summary
Pangasius that are not farmed to any environmental production standards (uncertified) cannot be verified to address several issues of environmental concern, due to the lack of auditing which requires farm inspections to check compliance against production standard criteria. In general, there are several issues associated with production, these include: habitat alteration; nutrient and organic pollution; escapes; interactions with local wildlife and enforcement of regulations. Pangasius are omnivores and as such, are not heavily reliant on marine proteins and oils to form part of its diet. However, the fish used to produce feed are currently not certified as being responsibly managed or sustainable. It is only by sourcing certified pangasius that you can be assured that the issues of critical environmental concern are being addressed.
References
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].FAO. 2010. Pangasius hypopthalmus (Sauvage, 1878). Available at https://www.fao.org/3/bm085e/bm085e.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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