Black-chin tilapia spreads through Ratchaburi waterways after floods

Residents in Muang district of Ratchaburi province have expressed concern that black-chin tilapia, an invasive fish species native to Africa, has spread through natural waterways, fish and shrimp farms, and even drainage channels in fruit orchards after floodwaters receded, posing a threat to the environment.

Several fruit orchard owners have complained that they found large numbers of black-chin tilapia in drainage channels after pumping floodwater into nearby canals.

Low-lying areas in the district were inundated for about three weeks after the Mae Klong River burst its banks following heavy rainfall.

Fishing campaigns were launched to catch the fish in canals and the river for consumption. However, the sheer number of fish overwhelmed these efforts, as the species continued to reproduce rapidly.

Prakob Sapyodkaew, president of the Thai Fish Raising Association, said eradicating the species from natural waterways would be difficult. As a long-term solution, the fish must be caught not only for consumption but also for other purposes that could generate income for local communities.

However, the species is highly resilient and can survive in a wide range of aquatic environments, including dirty and polluted water. Female black-chin tilapia can lay 300-500 eggs every three weeks.

Photo: File photo of black-chin tilapia