The first Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certificate for responsible Pangasius farming was awarded to Vinh Hoan’s Tan Hoa farm in Vietnam on September 11th.
Chris Ninnes, ASC, said: “This is a crucial milestone for the Pangasius industry, which is vital for the Vietnamese community in the Mekong Delta. The annual production has grown from 500,000 tonnes to 1.5 million tonnes in the last 10 years. This growth has also had serious negative side effects. The practices of Vinh Hoan are a great example for the whole industry.”
ASC certification recognises and rewards farms that have ensured their production is organised in a responsible manner. This includes conservation of water resources, no misuse of antibiotics, responsible use of feed, and behaving in a socially responsible manner.
The first Pangasius products with the ASC logo are expected to be available in supermarkets in Europe shortly. According to the ASC, more audits of farms have already taken place or are scheduled.
Pangasius is the second ASC certified species to appear in the market. Last month, the first certified Tilapia was introduced. Bivalves (mussels, oysters, scallops and clams). Abalone, trout, salmon and shrimp will follow next year.
The ASC is an international independent, not-for-profit organisation co-founded by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH) in 2010.
