FAI and Fresh Studio have launched a new partnership to develop and publish Vietnam’s first pangasius welfare assessment protocol, designed to enhance the performance and sustainability of the nation’s aquaculture sector.
Vietnam plays a crucial role in global aquaculture, producing over half of the world’s pangasius and domestic production volumes rising by around 4 percent this year. Drawing on FAI’s successful welfare assessment work with shrimp and tilapia and Fresh Studio’s extensive aquaculture network and experience in Vietnam, the two organisations plan to develop, test and validate the protocol for pangasius on more than 100 farms across Vietnam.
The new collaboration forms part of Fresh Studio’s wider DeltaCare project – funded by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) – which aims to boost fish health, farm resilience and product quality in the region.
“We aim to build a deeper understanding of welfare outcomes in commercial settings and highlight welfare as a driver for improved performance in pangasius production,” said Joe Pearce, aquaculture manager at Fresh Studio, in a press release.
“At Fresh Studio, we believe animal welfare is the foundation of a sustainable industry. Better welfare not only leads to healthier animals and higher quality products, but it also builds resilience for farmers facing growing climate and market pressures.”
The new assessment protocol will be structured around four well-recognised domains of welfare - environment, health, nutrition and behaviour - and will consider welfare risks and opportunities across the supply chain, including farming methods, transport and processing.
“By creating a practical and repeatable approach to assessment, we aim to help farmers identify welfare issues early, reduce avoidable losses and strengthen day-to-day decision-making on farm,” noted Pearce.
Alongside the tool’s development and testing, the partnership will also deliver an awareness campaign designed to raise the profile of pangasius welfare in the Vietnamese aquaculture sector. This will include joint workshops and training events with farmers, processors, industry bodies and educational institutions.
“Our experience has proved welfare is not a ‘nice to have’ but central to successful, modern aquaculture systems,” explained FAI’s CEO, Øistein Thorsen. “When welfare is improved, animals are more resilient, mortality rates reduce and farms are better positioned to deliver consistent quality and productivity.
“Working with Fresh Studio means we can combine their local knowledge with proven welfare science to help create useful welfare assessment tools and training to drive positive change for pangasius in Vietnam.”
The partners aim to finalise the new assessment protocol in 2026, with FAI set to lead the publication of a joint scientific paper to strengthen the evidence base for pangasius welfare and encourage adoption across the industry.
Source - https://thefishsite.com
