Dory: Genuine or a Fake?

A study conducted back in 2017 shows that Indonesia produced about 391,000 tons of Dory fish that year. However, it was stated by the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries that only 339,000 Dory was produced that year. At least about 52,000 tons of these ‘Dory’ may not be actual Dory. So chances are, the fish labelled as Dory might be a substitute.

An alternative to Dory is the Pangasius catfish, which commonly farms in Southeast Asia from Vietnam to here in Indonesia. It’s a freshwater fish that is highly cultivated due to its ability to withstand harsh weather and water conditions, which makes it a readily available fish in the market. Despite being a rich source of Omega 3 and protein, this fish is considered as highly toxic due to having traces of pesticide and chemicals from veterinary treatments. In addition, they are often raised in heavily polluted rivers such as the Mekong River in Vietnam. The chemical content in the fish's meat could bring adverse side effects such as food poisoning and even cancer due to the content of pesticides.

One of the fish Pangasius replaces is the actual Dory fish—Zeus Faber, commonly known as John Dory, a saltwater fish that lives off the coast of Europe, Australia and New Zealand. It is edible and has a similar texture and colour of flesh to the Dory fish. In comparison to the Pangasius, the John Dory is far more pricey to purchase. On top of that, it is also very expensive to import to Indonesia, which is why it is not available in Indonesian fish markets.

Pangasius plays a huge role in contributing to South East Asia's economy. Countries such as Vietnam and Indonesia are known to export Pangasius abroad to the United States and Europe. Last year alone, Vietnam exported about 1.2 million tonnes of Pangasius worth $1.6 billion USD to over 135 countries. Since 2002, the United States has banned exports of Dory from Vietnam to protect US consumers.

So is Dory served in our local restaurants and dining places actually Dory? Chances are they're not. But they are Pangasius. Despite the numerous health warnings given by authorities, incidents of Pangasius causing poisoning or illness are rare. Until today, Pangasius still remains the highest consumed fish in Indonesia.