The government has launched a national program to reduce the impact of invasive blackchin tilapia by transforming the fish into bio-fertilizer for rubber plantations.
The scheme, funded by the Rubber Replanting Aid Fund, will begin on August 1 and allow fisherman to sell captured blackchin tilapia for 15 baht per kilogram at 49 specified collecting points across 14 provinces.
Environmental Threats of Blackchin Tilapia
The blackchin tilapia, originally from Africa, has harmed local ecosystems by rapidly reproducing and preying on native fish species and their eggs. This adaptable species can live in fresh, salt, and brackish seas, increasing its influence over a wide range of settings.
The Fisheries Department manages the purchasing stations, which are located in provinces like Chanthaburi, Rayong, and Samut Prakan, where this invasive species thrives.
The program is part of the government’s five-point approach to address the ecological concerns caused by invasive species. The measures include removing alien fish from all Thai waters, releasing predator fish to limit populations, and closely monitoring alien fish movements in buffer zones and border areas.
Public education campaigns are also being stepped up to raise awareness about the dangers of cultivating or releasing invasive fish.
Authorities have also implemented harsh penalties to discourage blackchin tilapia breeding or improper release, including fines of up to 2 million baht and possible jail.
Purchasing the fish to manufacture fertilizer is part of the government’s five-point strategy to combat the invasive fish problem.
They are:
1. Eliminating foreign fish from all Thai waters.
2. Regularly releasing hunter fish to limit the spread of alien fish.
3. Using captured foreign fish for positive purposes
4. Tracking the spread of exotic fish in buffer zones and border regions.
Source: Pattaya Mail
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