DEPUTY Prime Minister-cum-Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Thammanat Prompao launched a new war on havoc-wreaking blackchin tilapia fish imported from Ghana by a private company during a visit to Samut Songkhram province today (Oct. 13), Naewna said.
The predator fish is causing severe ecological damage and ruining the livelihood of fishermen and aquatic farmers. Although this and other local news outlets did not name the private company, a Thai Newsroom report published in July 2024 identified it as Charoen Pokphand Foods Co. (CPF).
CPF has earlier said that all the predator fish imported and raised in the firm’s research ponds in Yisarn subdistrict of Ampawa district of Samut Songkhram had been completely “destroyed.”
Since the blackchin tilapia were imported by the giant firm from Ghana in 2010 the predator fish rapidly spawned in natural waters and gluttonously devoured other fish, shrimps and small aquatic animals raised by local villagers causing drastic ecological and environmental damage to coastal areas in Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram and Petchaburi.
Thammanat, who was accompanied by his deputy ministers Mr. Nares Thamrongtipyakhun and Mr. Amin Mayuso, said this fish is causing hardship for fishermen because it breeds rapidly and is difficult to eliminate but Thais must continously battle against this alien invasion no matter how many days or years it may take to eliminate it.
A new move is to compost the blackchin tilapia into fertiliser to provide nutrients for plants as nitrogen, calcium and potassium derived from it would help them grow better.
Ms. Thitiporn Laoprasert, acting director-general of the Department of Fisheries, said a project implementing seven measures to halt the spread of blackchin tilapia has so far eliminated over 7.3 million kilogrammes of this fish.
Thammanat also said that his primary policy is to suppress the smuggling of agricultural products into the country with those caught being arrested immediately and patrol boats are constantly on the outlook to suppress this form of exploitation.
CAPTION:
Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Thammanat Prompao addressing the public in Samut Songkhram today, Oct. 13, 2025. Photos – Naewna
Insert: Blackchin tilapia fish. Photo – Sanook.com
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