The government has launched a campaign to eradicate the invasive blackchin tilapia from the Tha Chin River and its connected water bodies in Bangkok, Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram, Samut Prakan, and Phetchaburi. The operation, spearheaded by the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry, seeks to restore the ecological balance by removing this non-native species, which poses a significant threat to local fish populations and the broader aquatic ecosystem.
To achieve this, fishermen in the affected regions will employ specially designed push nets, approved by Agriculture Minister Captain Thammanat Prompow, for use in 23 designated areas for a year to disrupt the breeding cycle of the blackchin tilapia. Provincial fishery offices have also been tasked with monitoring the species’ numbers to evaluate the campaign’s effectiveness and decide on further actions.
In addition to the removal efforts, the ministry plans to release 60,000 latidae, a type of native perch-like fish, to help replenish the natural fish population in these waters.
Captain Thammanat is scheduled to discuss potential markets for the captured blackchin tilapia and a plan to turn the catch into a source for fertilizer with the Fishmeal Producers Association of Thailand in the coming weeks. (NNT)
