Environmental challenges continued to affect Thailand’s society and economy throughout 2024.
1. The Invasive Blackchin Tilapia Crisis
As 2024 draws to a close, authorities are still investigating the widespread proliferation of blackchin tilapia, an invasive fish species wreaking havoc across Thailand.
Shrimp farmers in Samut Songkhram province first raised alarms in July after observing a dramatic decline in their aquaculture due to these invasive fish, which they suspect were irresponsibly released into local waterways.
The impact quickly extended, with reports of diminishing aquatic life along the Mae Klong River and neighboring provinces. By August, the Fisheries Department had officially recognized 79 districts across 19 provinces as affected regions.
Areas of concern include Chanthaburi, Rayong, Chachoengsao, Samut Prakan, Nonthaburi, and Bangkok, among others. This alarming situation has drawn significant attention from environmental activists and scholars who stress the grave threat to local freshwater ecosystems.
A legal dispute has emerged between environmental group BioThai and a prominent food producer linked to the initial breeding project of the blackchin tilapia, with BioThai seeking damages for environmental degradation.
The company maintains that all imported fish died shortly after arrival and denied any responsibility for their release into the wild.
Despite this, community and governmental efforts are underway to eliminate an estimated three million kilograms of these fish, including biological controls and public incentive programs to harvest the fish for consumption and alternative uses.
2. Concerns Over Toxic Waste Management
In April, a catastrophic fire at an industrial waste facility in Rayong unleashed hazardous conditions, leading to the discovery of 15,000 tonnes of harmful cadmium waste across several provinces.
Residents were evacuated from surrounding villages due to toxic air quality. Legal battles have pitted Win Process Company against local communities, with previous court rulings ordering significant compensation payments that remain unfulfilled.
In September, the court held the company accountable for substantial pollution, while investigations uncovered further illegal waste storage operations across the region.
3. Public Outcry for Land Rights Protection
The #SaveThapLan movement became a trending topic nationwide, highlighting massive public opposition to governmental proposals that threatened to redesignate 265,000 rai of national park land as agricultural property.
Nearly a million participants voiced their disapproval, marking this as the largest public hearing in Thailand’s history. The proposed changes raised fears of encroachment on protected areas, triggering calls for reevaluation from national leaders.
4. Declining Dugong Population
A continued decline in Thailand’s dugong population has been reported, with 41 deaths attributed to malnutrition, starvation, and entanglement in fishing nets in 2024 alone.
Experts highlight the crucial role of seagrass, their primary food source, and its alarming decline due to climate change and environmental degradation. Current recovery efforts are focused on educating local communities and implementing innovative dietary alternatives for these vulnerable marine mammals.
5. Devastating Floods Across the Nation
In 2024, severe flooding impacted 57 provinces, leading to substantial evacuations and economic losses estimated between 8 and 8.5 billion baht.
Particularly hard-hit was Chiang Rai, where rising floodwaters caused extensive property damage. Authorities are attributing the worsening conditions to illegal agricultural practices, deforestation, and urban encroachment along waterways, exacerbated by extreme weather patterns.
As scientists predict an increase in heavy rainfall driven by climate change, future flooding risks loom large for Thailand.
