Small-scale fishermen in Thailand’s southern province of Chumphon are complaining that Blackchin tilapia are now thriving in the coastal waters and canals connected to the sea, to the extent that every time they cast their nets, they will only catch the non-indigenous species and rarely any other.
They said that, although Blackchin tilapia were detected in the watercourses in the province about a decade ago, the proliferation of the native African fish has become critical in the past two years.
Shrimp and fish fry of various species, which have been released into the watercourses by the authorities and conservation groups, have all been wiped out by Blackchin tilapia before maturing, they said, adding that the canals in Pathio, Mueang, Sawi, Thung Tako, Lang Suan and Lamae are now home to the alien fish.
One of the fishermen, 57-year-old Sa-nga Kongsiri, said that there is only one factory in the district that is still willing to buy Blackchin tilapia, at 6 baht/Kg, to turn into animal feed, while others refuse to buy them, claiming that they are full of bones and little meat.
He said he does not know how to make a living, because there are no other fish species in the watercourses these days, apart from Blackchin tilapia.
Blackchin tilapia have now spread to 17 provinces, according to the Fisheries Department.
Meanwhile, a Japanese chef what he found in Blackchin tilapia, after scaling, cleaning and filleting them. He said a fish of about 277g dead weight contains only 79g of meat and the rest is thrown away; its intestine is nine times the length of its body; the stomach usually contains mud, which is an indication that there is no food for them in the waters and 80% of the fish caught contain eggs ready to be fertilised.
