Feed Resources

Criterion score: 1. info

All farmed Pangasius rely on feed inputs and the use of commercial pangasius aquafeed in countries such as Vietnam is the norm. The GLOBALG.A.P. aquaculture standard requires ingredients used in feed to be traceable to species level. However, criteria for the sustainable content of feed are lacking and as a minor must, wild fish ingredients which originate from IFFO and MSC fisheries must only be declared as a minor must. There is also no requirement for soy products and palm oil to be sourced sustainably.

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, and this may contribute towards future food security.

Environmental Impacts

Criterion score: -2. info

Pangasius have a number of environmental issues associated with their production. The GLOBALG.A.P. standard mitigates some of these issues. Habitat alteration has taken place for pond production but this is not in areas of high ecological sensitivity and has generally been 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 GLOBALG.A.P. standard requires discharge licenses and abstraction rights for each site well water or potable water should not be used to lower the salt concentration of pond water.

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 GLOBALG.A.P. standard requires a veterinary health plan to be in place and has specific criteria for when antibiotics can be used. According to national legislation, farmers are banned form dumping sludge into waterways and every farmer must set aside part of the farm site for treating wastewater before discharge. In addition, the GLOBALG.A.P. certification has criteria in place to ensure that consent is in place for the discharge of effluent loads in the environment.

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. Escapes are also limited by criteria outlined in the GLOBALG.A.P. standard that require maintenance records, records of actions taken to correct equipment and farms are required to have an effective documented procedure for preventing escapes. 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 is 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 but are not thought to threaten regional level operations. 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.

Fish Health and Welfare

Criterion score: 1. info

The GLOBALG.A.P. aquaculture standard outlines practices that are in place to ensure animal welfare and humane slaughter of pangasius. This includes a risk assessment for animal welfare. Humane slaughter practices are also in place.

Management

Criterion score: 5. info

This assessment covers all GLOBALG.A.P. certified pangasius production in Vietnam. Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) is underway in 8 coastal provinces in Vietnam and was incorporated into Vietnam’s Law of Planning in January 2018.

The GLOBALG.A.P. standard has criteria 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. These criteria are thought to be fully effective is minimizing negative environmental impacts.


The GLOBALG.A.P. Aquaculture Standard incorporates aspects stipulated by the FAO Technical Guidelines on Aquaculture certification and the OIE Aquatic Animal Health Code. It is recognized both by the GFSI for food safety and GSSI at primary production level, covering key sustainability aspects for animal production for human consumption.

Production method

Ponds

Farming in open net pens in river systems allows for interaction with the surrounding environment and, as such, has to be managed in such a way as to minimise negative environmental and ecological impacts.

Alternatives

Based on method of production, fish type, and consumer rating: only fish rated 2 and below are included as an alternative in the list below. Click on a name to show the sustainable options available.

Biology

The group of freshwater fish known as catfish are captured from the wild or farmed for food and displayed in public aquaria dependant on the species. This farmed species natural habitat is medium to large rivers in Asian countries such as Vietnam, where they can grow up to 44kg.There are omnivores, feeding on a diet of other fish, vegetable matter and crustaceans. Pangasius bocourti is one of the most important farmed species in Vietnam.