Whitefish wars: Pangasius, politics and consumer confusion in Europe |
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Authors: | David C. Little Simon R. BushBen Belton Nguyen Thanh PhuongJames A. Young Francis J. Murray |
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Affiliation: | a Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK b Environmental Policy Group, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 8130, 6700 EW, The Netherlands c World Fish Center, House 22B, Road 7, Block-F, Banani, Dhaka 1213, Bangladesh d College of Fisheries, Can Tho University, Can Tho, Vietnam e Stirling Management School, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK |
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Abstract: | Rapid growth in production of the farmed Vietnamese whitefish pangasius and its trade with the European Union has provoked criticism of the fish's environmental, social and safety credentials by actors including WWF and Members of the European Parliament and associated negative media coverage. This paper reviews the range of claims communicated about pangasius (identified as a form of mass mediated risk governance), in light of scientific evidence and analysis of data from the EU's Rapid Alert System for Food and Feeds food safety notification system for imported seafood. This analysis shows pangasius to be generally safe, environmentally benign and beneficial for actors along the international value chains that characterise the trade. The case is made that increasingly politicised debates in Europe around risk and uncertainty are potentially counterproductive for EU seafood security and European aquaculture industry, and that the trade in pangasius can contribute to sustainable seafood consumption in a number of ways. Transparent evidence-based assessment and systems for communicating complex issues of risk for products such as pangasius are required in order to support continuance of fair and mutually beneficial trade. |
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Keywords: | Pangasius International trade Vietnam EU Seafood Risk governance |
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