In Thailand, 1,300 tons of an invasive species were caught

This is the black-chinned tilapia fish.The Thai government has estimated spending over 265 million euros to combat its spread.

A few months ago there was talk everywhere about blue crab, an invasive species capable of threatening fishing activity in the Mediterranean Sea.Today, global attention has shifted to another species, a fish, and another continent:there black-chinned tilapia (Sarotherodon melanotheron) which is making the authorities in Thailand worry.It is a voracious species, dangerous for ecosystems and which feeds on smaller fish.For these reasons, Bangkok has established a parliamentary commission for limit proliferation of the tilapia and announced that he had already done so catch of at least 1,300 tonnes of this species in seven months.The cost dell'operation of reclamation for the Thai economy could exceed the 10 billion baht (265 million euros).

Government interventions:from incentives to the introduction of sterile specimens

Schools of black-chinned tilapia have been found in 19 Thai provinces and are believed to produce up to 500 eggs per brood.In addition to the ecological impact, the government is concerned about thefish farming.In fact, the black-chinned tilapia also feeds on shrimp and the larvae of sea snails.This is why the government has declared that the elimination of this alien species is one national priority and began encouraging people to catch tilapia by offering 40 euro cents per kilo as a reward.Efforts have also focused on creating promotional activities in Phetchaburi province aimed at spreading the consumption of tilapia-based fish sauces and sausages.Restaurants have also started to use fish more and more in cooking, either fried with garlic or sun-dried.The government then planned to release some specimens rendered sterile of tilapia, so as to counteract the proliferation of the population and has designated 75 areas in the country where the fish can be marketed.

Tilapia have spread into the small canals

The vice-president of the parliamentary commission established to limit the spread of fish, Nattacha Boonchaiinsawat, was interviewed by the news agency AFP and his words were taken up by various newspapers:“We talked to local residents and found that the spread of tilapia has gotten worse, they found them in small canals, which was not the case before.”In another interview to the BBC television broadcaster added:“We need people to follow the case closely, otherwise this issue will remain silent, and we will pass this phenomenon on to the next generation.”

The tilapia species is native to West Africa

It is not yet clear how the fish reached Thailand.So far some media, such as the Taipei Times, they have reported that the fish may have been imported from Ghana in 2010.What is certain is that it is a genre originating fromWest Africa which from 2018 to today has spread rapidly enough to arrive in the American state of Florida and the Philippines.

 

The objective is to find a compromise between economy and biodiversity

We'll see what they will be impacts of Thai policies in support ofecosystem.In any case, a fundamental condition to guarantee the success of the operation is the government's ability to find a compromise between the social and economic issues of spending and biodiversity conservation.