Damage from Invasive Tilapia Estimated at B450 Million
The invasive blackchin tilapia fish, caught from the Sanam Chai and Khok Kham canals in Samut Songkhram, are being utilized in a community initiative to support food distribution efforts. This comes amid ongoing concerns about the species’ significant impact on local agriculture and ecosystems.
The House Committee on Science, Technology, Research, and Innovation has reported that blackchin tilapia is responsible for an estimated 450 million baht in damages, affecting both farmers and the environment. The committee convened to address these pressing issues, with Deputy Director-General of the Department of Fisheries, Praphan Leepayakhun, attending to provide insights.
Representatives from five companies—Thai Qian Hu, Advance Aquatic, Samitra Aquarium Limited Partnership, P&P Aquarium World Trading, and Asia Aquatics—expressed denial of any involvement in the export of blackchin tilapia during the meeting. Meanwhile, three additional companies declined to participate.
Data from the Department of Fisheries revealed that between 2013 and 2016, eleven exporters shipped 326,240 blackchin tilapia as ornamental fish to various countries including Pakistan, Turkey, Kuwait, Azerbaijan, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States. This export activity occurred under the Animal Epidemics Act, which did not require the disclosure of the fish’s origin, merely an invoice or health certificate.
However, discrepancies in export records have emerged, with 212 out of 24,000 export orders mislabeling different fish species as blackchin tilapia (Sarotherodon melanotheron). Officials maintained that no formal report of blackchin tilapia exports existed at that time, attributing the issue solely to clerical errors.
Despite these administrative mistakes, Committee Chairman Takorn Tantasith questioned why the Department of Fisheries prioritized export documentation over addressing farmers’ complaints regarding the invasive fish’s proliferation and its source.
Representatives from the involved companies defended their position, presenting invoices and purchase orders to affirm their claims of non-involvement in exporting the invasive species.
A subcommittee has been tasked with investigating the situation further and is expected to compile a report for the House committee assessing the total damage inflicted on farmers, livelihoods, and the environment—currently estimated at 450 million baht. This report will be forwarded to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives for potential emergency funding to assist affected parties.
Additionally, the Fisheries Department has initiated a project to process blackchin tilapia into liquid biofertilizer, successfully producing 155 tonnes from 168 tonnes of fish, showcasing a potential sustainable solution amid the crisis.
