Gov Defends Giant Catfish Fertility Treatment Plan

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Govt defends giant catfish fertility treatment plan

CHIANG RAI: -- Thailand’s fisheries department has dismissed claims that a rare Giant Catfish that died on Sunday was the result of the government’s fertility program.

The government recently started an artificial insemination program to increase the population of the giant catfish – a rare species indigenous to the Mekong River. Under the scheme both male and female fish are injected with sperm.

Environmentalists have criticised this invasive approach and blamed it for the recent deaths of two giant catfish.

The Chiang Rai provincial fisheries chief, Banjong Jamnongsittham said the latest giant catfish death was the result of the net that environmentalists had put over its head for protection. The net was meant to shield the fish from danger, but instead obstructed its breathing, Mr. Banjong said.

The fertility procedures will continue despite the environmentalist’s opposition.

Meanwhile, the Chiang Rai Senator, Tuenjai Deetase has also raised concern about the rush to extract sperm from giant catfish on the pretext of producing more fish.

The fertility scheme only encouraged the hunt for healthy giant catfish for their sperm and eggs, and threatened the survival of the other catfish.

The senator appealed to the Agriculture Minister and the Fisheries Department Director-General to travel to Chiang Rai to listen to the views of the villagers and local NGOs in Chiang Khong District engaged in the

conservation of the giant catfish.

--TNA 2005-05-02