Samut Songkhram, Minister Thammanat ordered the establishment of a committee to solve the problem of the outbreak of black-chinned cichlids, a foreign alien species that has been chronic for 18 years, and announced that it would be elevated to a national agenda. Ready to expedite the damage survey in order to provide compensation to affected aquatic animal farmers as soon as possible. Emphasize that we definitely do not encourage keeping them as economic animals. Captain Thammanat Phromphao, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Along with Mr. Atthakorn Sirilatthayakorn, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, he followed up on solutions to solve the problem of the spread of black chin cichlids, which are alien species (Alien Species) in Samut Songkhram Province. Captain Thammanat stated that Will raise the resolution of the black-chin cichlid outbreak problem to a national agenda because it has been a chronic problem for 18 years. This fish is an exotic aquatic animal in the tilapia genus that is good at eating. Breeds quickly and destroy the ecosystem Outbreaks found in many provinces have affected farmers, so he has ordered the Deputy Minister of Agriculture Be the president of solving problems At the same time, the Department of Agricultural Extension has been assigned to survey the damage of aquatic farmers in every province where there is an outbreak of black-chinned cichlids in order to plan further assistance and relief. As well as setting up committees to solve problems, both large and provincial. There will be a committee from many sectors working together to solve the problem and eradicate the black chin fish in the most serious and concrete way. Nabancha Sukkaew, Director-General of the Fisheries Department, said: Measures to solve the problem of the spread of black-chin cichlids by the Ministry of Agriculture Those assigned to the Fisheries Department to carry out are as follows: Control and eliminate black-chinned cichlids in all water sources where infestations are found. And effect ive fishing tools have been developed to eliminate black-chin cichlids. Black-chinned cichlid fish in natural water sources By continuing to release predatory fish, in 2024, 154,000 predatory fish will be released. Use the black-chinned cichlids that are removed from the ecosystem to: Send a factory to produce fish meal Used as bait for raising sea bass. and make biological fermentation Survey and monitor the spread of the black-chin cichlid population in the buffer zone. Department of Fisheries agencies went to survey provinces with rivers connected to provinces where the outbreak was occurring in order to monitor. Create knowledge, awareness, and participation in eliminating black-chinned cichlids. To prevent and be ready to deal with the outbreak. Find ways to prevent and promote and encourage catching black-chinned cichlid fish to be used to generate income. Monitor and evaluate projects Mr. Atthakorn said Ministry of Agriculture Concerned about affected aquatic farmers, we will take measures to str ictly eradicate black chin fish, emphasizing that they will definitely not be promoted as economic animals. Source: Thai News Agency