Blackchin tilapia have been found in four districts of Samut Prakan province and in the Gulf of Thailand, fewer than three nautical miles from the shoreline, said Pichai Sae Sim, president of the Fisheries Association of Samut Prakan today.
He told the media that fishermen reported catching many of the non-indigenous African species at sea. When cut open, the fish were found to contain many dead shrimp, adding that, if the spread of this invasive species is not contained quickly, the ecological system in the Gulf may be destroyed and fishermen will be badly affected.
The fisheries chief of the province yesterday called an urgent meeting with relevant agencies and the fisheries association to discuss ways to eliminate Blackchin tilapia from natural watercourses.
The provincial fisheries chief, Somporn Kuasakul, admitted that the spread of the species in the province has reached a critical level, now being found in watercourses in Phra Samut Chedi, Bang Bo and Mueang districts, as well as in the Gulf.
Mongkol Sukcharoenkana, president of the Fisheries Association of Thailand, said that many fish farms in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Songkhla, Surat Thani and some eastern provinces will be hard hit if Blackchin tilapia manage to invade them.
He added, however, that the fish has not been detected in northern or north-eastern provinces yet and, if they are, it means that they were released into watercourses there by humans.
Nattacha Boonchaiinsawat, Move Forward MP and vice chair of the House committee charged with dealing with Blackchin tilapia, said that the alien fish species has been spreading for the past 14 years, but the issue has recently become more critical.
He said that Blackchin tilapia have become a national problem, for which all parties concerned must join forces to resolve to protect the ecological system, otherwise the new generation Thais will not see any indigenous fish species in the wild, but only in pictures.
