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Details About Basa/swai/tra

a.k.a. Catfish, Vietnamese catfish

Health Details

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Eco Details

Basa and Tra imports from Vietnam, Thailand and China have increased substantially in recent years.
The fish are often cultivated in net cages in rivers, and there is little government regulation of farming operations.

More About Basa/swai/tra

Basa and Tra are species of freshwater catfish native to the Mekong and Chao Phraya basins of southeast Asia. They are in the family Pangasiidae, or shark catfishes.

Commercial Sources

The U.S. is importing an increasing amount of Vietnamese catfish, as a less expensive alternative to channel catfish.

Capture Methods

Most Vietnamese catfish are grown in cages suspended under barges in the Mekong River. They are also grown in earthen ponds.

Species Information

Tra
Basa

This guide is produced in collaboration with the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

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