Simão Zacarias and one of our local project partners recently visited an integrated catfish (Pangasius) farm which has its own hatchery, nursery, farm and processing plant. Pangasius is one of the main farmed fish in Vietnam. During the visit he engaged with the farmer and discussed welfare issues found in the pangasius production chain.

This pond is used to nurse pangasius to fingerling size before they are transferred to grow-out ponds. Poor survival associated to transportation of larvae and/or fingerlings from hatchery to nursery or nursery to grow-out is not observed here because the facilities are all located in same area which does not require long time and distance to transport the animals.

As part of the wider “Hotspot Analysis” the main areas of concerns which may require further interventions from management and/or research perspective include at nursery stage, early days of grow-out post-stocking (e.g. If the farm source animals from sites which requires long distance transportation) and during transportation of larvae and/or fingerlings, where significant low survival is observed.