Basa | |
---|---|
Head of basa fish | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Siluriformes |
Family: | Pangasiidae |
Genus: | Pangasius |
Species: | P. bocourti |
Binomial name | |
Pangasius bocourti Sauvage, 1880 | |
Basa (Pangasius bocourti), as it is commonly referred to, is a species of primarily freshwater-dwelling catfish in the shark-catfish family, Pangasiidae, native to the Mekong and Chao Phraya river basins of Mainland Southeast Asia. [2] Economically, these fish are important as a regional food source, and are also prized on the international market. Outside of Asia, such as in North America or Australia, they are often referred to as "basa fish" or "swai" [3] or by their specific name, "bocourti". [4] In the United Kingdom, all species of Pangasius may, legally, be described as "river cobbler", "cobbler", "basa", "pangasius" or simply "panga", as well as any of these names with the addition of "catfish". [5] In the rest of mainland Europe, these fish are mostly sold as "pangasius" or "panga". [6] In Asian fish markets, names for basa also include "Pacific dory" [7] and "patin". [8] Other, related shark-catfish species may occasionally be labeled—albeit incorrectly—as basa, including the iridescent shark ( P. hypophthalmus ) and the yellowtail catfish ( P. pangasius ).
The body of the basa is stout and heavy. The rounded head is broader than it is long, with the blunt snout having a white band on its muzzle. This species grows to a maximum length of 120 centimetres (47 in). [2]
Basa fish feed on plants. They spawn at the onset of flood season and the young are first seen in June, averaging about 5 centimetres (2.0 in) by mid-June. [2]
Some bogey fish are labelled as swai; they are often mislabelled as tonguefish in China.
In 2002, the United States accused Vietnam of dumping catfish, namely P. bocourti and P. hypophthalmus, on the American market, arguing that the Vietnamese exporters, who are subsidised by Vietnam's government, were engaged in unfair competition. [9] [10] With pressure from the U.S. catfish industry, the United States Congress passed a law in 2003 preventing the imported fish from being labelled as catfish, as well as imposing additional tariffs on the imported fish. [11] Under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ruling, only species from the family Ictaluridae can be sold as true catfish. [3] As a result, the Vietnamese exporters of this fish now label their products sold in the U.S. as basa fish, striped pangasius, swai or bocourti. [12] [13]
At the height of the "catfish war", U.S. catfish farmers and others were describing the imported catfish as an inferior product. However, Mississippi State University researchers found imported basa were preferred three-to-one to US catfish in a small (58 testers) blind taste test. [14]
Basa has become common in the UK as "Vietnamese river cobbler", "river cobbler", or "basa". It is mainly sold by large supermarkets, in both fresh and frozen forms, as a cheaper alternative to popular white fish such as cod or haddock. Young's uses it in some of its frozen fish products, under the name basa. [15] The import of basa is subject to the same stringent EU regulations as other food imports, as set out in the CBI pangasius product fact sheet [16] UK Trading Standards officers said that cobbler was being fraudulently sold as cod by some fish-and-chip retailers to take advantage of the much lower price of cobbler, which was about half that of cod. This practice was highlighted by the successful prosecution of two retailers, using DNA evidence, in 2009 and 2010. [17] [18] Sometimes pangasius is described, legally, simply as "fish", as in "fish and chips". [18]
Several environmental organisations specialising in marine ecosystems have raised concerns surrounding basa; OceanWise, an environmental group associated with Canada's Vancouver Aquarium, has flagged farmed basa for its potential pollution of ecosystems and interference with wild species. [19] The group stated: "Open cage farming in Southeast Asia is associated with disease transfer to wild basa. There are also concerns about feed quality, farm operating standards and the biological impact of using wild stock for culturing." [19] The Monterey Bay Aquarium in California currently lists the species in its "red flag" or "avoid" category. [20] Both groups cite USA-farmed catfish as a more sustainable alternative.
Tests by Asda and Tesco supermarket corporations in the UK have found no trace of toxic contaminants. [21] Testing by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service found trace levels of malachite green, but no other contaminants; this was likely the result of antiparasitic treatment administered to the fish, such as in the treatment of ich (white-spot disease), a common affliction of captive fishes with which malachite green (or methylene blue) is often remedied. [22] [23] [24] [25]
One case has been reported of a person without a general fish allergy having an anaphylactic reaction to pangasius. [26] [27]
Cobbler(s) may refer to:
Fish and chips is a hot dish consisting of battered and fried fish, served with chips. Often considered the national dish of the United Kingdom, fish and chips originated in England in the 19th century. Today, the dish is a common takeaway food in numerous other countries, particularly English-speaking and Commonwealth nations.
Catfish are a diverse group of ray-finned fish. Named for their prominent barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers, catfish range in size and behavior from the three largest species alive, the Mekong giant catfish from Southeast Asia, the wels catfish of Eurasia, and the piraíba of South America, to detritivores, and even to a tiny parasitic species commonly called the candiru, Vandellia cirrhosa. Neither the armour-plated types nor the naked types have scales. Despite their name, not all catfish have prominent barbels or "whiskers". Members of the Siluriformes order are defined by features of the skull and swimbladder. Catfish are of considerable commercial importance; many of the larger species are farmed or fished for food. Many of the smaller species, particularly the genus Corydoras, are important in the aquarium hobby. Many catfish are nocturnal, but others are crepuscular or diurnal.
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The iridescent shark or iridescent shark catfish is a species of shark catfish native to the rivers of Southeast Asia. Despite its name, it is not a shark. It is found in the Mekong basin as well as the Chao Phraya River, and is heavily cultivated for food there.
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Pangasius is a genus of medium-large to very large shark catfishes native to fresh water in South and Southeast Asia. The term "pangasius" is sometimes used to specifically refer to the commercially important basa fish, P. bocourti.
Pangasius pangasius, the Pangas catfish, is a species of shark catfish native to fresh and brackish waters of Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, and Pakistan. It has also been introduced to Cambodia and Vietnam. This species grows to a standard length of 3 metres (9.8 ft). This species of fish is eaten by the people of South Asia, the other being P. silasi from the Krishna River.
The giant pangasius, paroon shark, pangasid-catfish or Chao Phraya giant catfish is a species of freshwater fish in the shark catfish family (Pangasiidae) of order Siluriformes, found in the Chao Phraya and Mekong basins in Indochina. Its populations have declined drastically, mainly due to overfishing, and it is now considered Critically Endangered.
Cuulong Fish JSC is a fishery company in Vietnam, specializing in farming and processing two species of pangasius, a genus of catfish, Pangasius bocourti and Pangasius hypophthalmus. The company's main facilities are in Long Xuyen City in An Giang Province, adjacent to the Mekong River. Cuulong processes over 80,000 tons of pangasius per year. Products include frozen fillets, breaded fillets, fishsticks, nuggets and fish sausage. Cuulong Fish's stock is listed at the Ho Chi Minh Securities Trading Center.
Panga is the common South African name for Pterogymnus laniarius, a small, ocean-dwelling fish.
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Cod and other cod-like fish have been widely used as food through history. Other cod-like fish come from the same family (Gadidae) that cod belong to, such as haddock, pollock, and whiting.
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