Thai Fisheries Dept cracks down on cichlid traffickers

[webfact]

Fisheries Dept cracks down on cichlid traffickers

 

 

BANGKOK, 22 March 2018 (NNT) - The Department of Fisheries has invoked Section 65 of the 2015 Fisheries Act to ban businesses from importing, exporting, transferring and raising invasive aquatic species, in a bid to save native fish populations and the aquaculture industry from cichlids. 

The move came after reports and complaints that illegally imported cichlids have impacted fish farms in the provinces of Samut Songkhram, Samut Prakan, Phetchaburi, Prachaup Khiri Khan, Chumphon and Kanchanaburi. Affected fish farmers said cichlids quickly adapt to natural and man-made waters. Many have found their way into canals, rivers and fish farms, where they prey on wild and farmed fish species. 

Director-General of the Department of Fisheries Adisorn Promthep revealed that the ban had come into effect since March 19th. Offenders face a maximum prison sentence of one year, a maximum fine of one million baht, or both. 

The department has called on fish farmers and companies that still possess three types of cichlids-- Blackchin tilapia, Mayan cichlid and Zebra tilapia-- to urgently turn over all their stocks of the invasive species to the department. Members of the public who catch any of the three cichlid species may consume or sell the fish, provided they are killed before retail. 

Government organizations or academic institutions that need to breed cichlids for research purposes must get permission from the department beforehand. Those found to have dumped their specimens are subject to a maximum prison sentence of two years, a maximum fine of two million baht, or both.

 

-- nnt 2018-03-22

[tracker1]

Talipia are everywhere and being a mouthbrooder makes them even worse but have to admit they have saved many from starvation throughout the world

[Cake Monster]

I am not so sure that these Cichlids were imported.

 

There are a great number of Cichld fish that are in the Aquarium trade here, and are bred on a large scale.

 

However, the female fish are usually not so colourful as the male fish, so only the males are the ones you see for sale in the Aquarium stores here.

 

I do not know what happens to the female fish that are bred here, but for sure some will have " escaped " into the canals Etc where they will breed with the native Cichlid fish.

 

 

Edited March 24, 2018 by Cake Monster