Department of Fisheries steps up measures against black chin tilapia

 

SAMUT SONGKRAM, 28 July 2017 (NNT) – The Department of Fisheries is addressing the issue of black chin tilapia in Samut Songkram, recommending locals to remove the infesting breed from natural water sources and mulling a ban on their import and export. 

Director-General of the Department of Fisheries Adisorn Phromthep has held a meeting on dealing with a spread of black chin tilapia in the long term as the alien breed has infested farms in Samut Songkram and Petchburi provinces, resulting in widespread damage.

 

He noted that locals often sell the fish after they have infested their farms and are calling for his department to buy them at 30 baht a kilogram, an approach he said he does not agree with as the fish have little resale value.

 

The director-general said other measures will be sought and that any purchases will be done at a more appropriate price. He expects it will take 1-2 months to remove the species from waterways before rehabilitation can begin. 

The department is also considering banning the import and export of the fish and possibly possession of it to protect against future outbreaks.

 

It is now seeking out those that introduced the species to Thailand for legal prosecution and will launch a damage assessment in Samut Songkram.

 

-- nnt 2017-07-28

https://www.google.co.th/search?q=black+chin+tilapia&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiY-YCZjqvVAhVDvLwKHXeOAY0Q_AUICigB&biw=1366&bih=638

get the grill ready

This will probably not go as easy as he expects....

Why would it not have any value?

On 7/28/2017 at 11:07 AM, webfact said:

He noted that locals often sell the fish after they have infested their farms and are calling for his department to buy them at 30 baht a kilogram, an approach he said he does not agree with as the fish have little resale value.

Maybe because the fish doesn't have "Thainess?" It's not native to Thailand culture and therefore, "bad."

 

For the rest of the world its economic importance for humans is positive.

http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Sarotherodon_melanotheron/

It survives in largely brackish waters and also feeds on algae infestations. So long as it doesn't compete against higher value fish. But in fish farms higher quality fish food requires a much higher (and more expensive) quality aquatic environment that is not conducive to black tilapia survival.

 

Banning import and export of black tilapia is a lost economic opportunity, especially for the low-income aquatic farmer. Rather, the Department of Fisheries should focus on inspection of fish farms and uncontrolled waterways to prevent unintentional spread of the species where it threatens higher quality species. 

Too later, the horse has bolted. They need to accept that it is an edible protein and get on with making money out of it. Something which the Thais are good at. 

If it happened in Vietnam they wouldn't be standing around inventing new laws and scratching their heads or wringing their hands. They would be catching it and eating it and farming it just like they do basa.

Edited July 29, 20178 yr by Cadbury