Cheap farmed catfish from Asia replaces trout and sole in Tesco

According to supermarket giant Tesco, sales of the Asian catfish species Vietnamese river cobbler fish (also known as pangasius) - are now double that of trout and three times higher than lemon sole, even though the fish was only introduced in 2007.

Demand for the Vietnamese river cobbler has grown by 60 per cent over the last few months Tesco said.

Fillets cost £2.95 per lb (£6.49 per kg), compared to £3.49 per lb (£7.68 per kg) for plaice and £4.07 per lb (£8.97 per kg) for lemon sole, the Telegraph reported.

Pangasius is a farmed fish that can grow up to 100lb (44kg). Its flesh is white with a slight pink tinge and it is sold boneless and skinless.

Sam Pearl, a Tesco fish buyer, told the Telegraph newspaper that compared to other quality white fish such as plaice, sea bass and lemon sole, it was great value.

Pearl said he was amazed how quickly demand had grown, especially in the last six months, as there hadn't been any advertising around it.

"He added: "Vietnamese river cobbler has become one of the fastest growing farmed fish in the world so it appears that the trend has just started over here.”