Meeting to plan additional solutions to the “Black-chinned Tilapia” crisis this afternoon

Bangkok, The Director-General of the Department of Fisheries revealed that there will be a meeting of the committee to solve the outbreak of 'Black-chinned Tilapia' chaired by the Deputy Minister of Agriculture this afternoon to upgrade measures and clearly define an action plan for prevention and solution in the 14 provinces where the outbreak has occurred. The Ministry of Agriculture will then submit it to the Cabinet for approval. Mr. Bancha Sukkaew, Director-General of the Department of Fisheries, said that this afternoon there will be a meeting of the committee to solve the problem of the outbreak of 'Black-chinned Tilapia', chaired by Mr. Atthakorn Sirilatthayakorn, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives. The Ministry of Agriculture has appointed committees to solve the problem of the outbreak of Black-chinned Tilapia at the provincial level in 14 provinces where the outbreak was found, namely Chanthaburi, Rayong, Chachoengsao, Ratchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Songkhla, Bangkok, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram, and Phetchaburi. Each provincial committee will prepare measures to prevent and solve the outbreak, including creating a clear action plan and budget. The provincial committee will present the matter to the meeting of the Ministry of Agriculture's committee this afternoon. It will then be presented to the Cabinet for consideration, as Lt. Col. Thammanat Prompao, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, has a policy to raise the level of elimination of Black-chinned Tilapia, which is an invasive alien species, to a national agenda because it has been a chronic problem for 14 years. The long-lasting outbreak of the black chin tilapia has affected aquaculture farmers and the fisheries sector economy. Therefore, there is a policy to survey the damage to aquaculture farmers in every province where the black chin tilapia outbreak occurs in order to plan assistance and compensation. In addition, it has also affected the biodiversity of fres hwater and brackish water ecosystems, so water sources and aquatic resources must be restored to balance. The Ministry of Agriculture's measures to solve the problem of the spread of the black chin tilapia, which the Department of Fisheries has assigned to implement, are as follows: 1) Control and eliminate the black chin tilapia in all water sources where outbreaks are found. 2) Release predatory fish such as sea bass and eel to eliminate the black chin tilapia in natural water sources. 3) Use the eliminated black chin tilapia, such as in human food and animal feed. 4) Survey and monitor the spread of the black chin tilapia in natural water sources in various buffer zones. 5) Publicize, raise awareness, and participate in the elimination of the black chin tilapia for all sectors. Mr. Bancha said that the Fisheries Department is accelerating the research project on the induction of the 4n chromosome set in black-chinned tilapia, which is a research to control the breeding of black-chinned tilapia using genetic principles. The study will study and create a population of special black-chinned tilapia with 4 chromosome sets (4n). The special black-chinned tilapia will then be released into water sources to mate with normal black-chinned tilapia with 2 chromosome sets (2n). The black-chinned tilapia fry will be born with 3 chromosome sets (3n), and will be sterile and unable to reproduce. It is expected that the male black-chinned tilapia with 4 special chromosome sets (4n), which are the first sterile generation, will be released into water sources in December. Within 1 year and 3 months, the genetically sterile black-chinned tilapia will be able to be released into water sources covering all outbreak areas. It is estimated that the control over the emergence of new black-chinned tilapia fry will gradually decrease to a level that will not affect farmers' aquaculture sites and the ecosystem. Mr. Bancha said that there are two assumptions about the origin of the black-chinned tilapia, which is native to Africa , and its entry into Thailand, causing the problem of being an invasive alien species: Smuggling The private sector has requested permission to import them for breed improvement research. In 2006, a private sector applied for permission to import a number of black-chinned tilapia. As for whether they escaped, it is uncertain because 17 years have passed and so they do not dare to accuse. The Director-General of the Fisheries Department said that the intentions of the fisheries laws in the past and present were different. In 2010, the Fisheries Act B.E. 2490 (1947) was used, Section 54, which stipulated that no one was allowed to bring aquatic animals into the Kingdom unless they received permission. The intention was to prevent epidemics and residues in imported aquatic animals. The law on epidemics and residues in imported aquatic animals was not yet in place. It did not have the intention to prevent the invasion of invasive aquatic animals. However, the Fisheries Act B.E. 2558 (2015) is currently in use , which emphasizes the prevention of invasive aquatic animals, stipulated in Section 65 to protect biodiversity. The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has issued a ministerial announcement on the type of aquatic animals prohibited from being imported, exported, transported through, or cultivated in 2018. The import of black-chinned tilapia is prohibited. The import request will be considered by the Biodiversity Committee first. As for the part where many sectors have called on the importers of black-chinned tilapia for breeding research in Thailand, which later caused an outbreak and is responsible for economic and ecological damage, Colonel Thammanat said that he does not yet know whether it is true or not. If it is said without supporting evidence, it will cause damage. The report from the Subcommittee on the Study of Causes and Solutions, Including the Impacts of the Import of Blackchin Tilapia for Research and Development of Species in the Kingdom of Thailand, in the House of Representatives Com mittee on Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, stated that in 2017, the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand (NHRC) investigated the outbreak of blackchin tilapia after complaints that they had suffered from the outbreak of blackchin tilapia in Samut Songkhram and Phetchaburi provinces. The private sector applied for permission to import from the Department of Fisheries in 2006 to improve the Nile tilapia breed. The country of origin took 3 years to collect the fish before importing them to Thailand at the end of 2010, in the amount of 2,000 fish. According to the explanation of the Department of Fisheries, the defendant, the private sector stated that the long transportation time of 32 hours caused some of the fish to die, leaving only 600 fish that were not well. The remaining fish were then released into a prepared closed pond. Later, it turned out that in the first week, only 200 fish survived and almost all of them died within 3 weeks. The researchers believe that: The fish began t o die one after another, so 50 samples were sent to the Fisheries Department by pickling. The researcher then decided to destroy the remaining fish by using concentrated chlorine and buried the fish carcasses with lime because it was considered that the breed improvement would not be successful. The researcher then informed the Fisheries Department verbally without making an official report. At that time, the Department of Fisheries explained to the NHRC that the cause of the outbreak of black-chinned tilapia could have been due to either smuggling or violation of import permit conditions. The outbreak of this type of fish had been occurring for many years, so it was not possible to determine the source or cause of the outbreak. The subcommittee is currently considering the study of causes and solutions, including the impacts of the black-chinned tilapia imports. They are still trying to find the cause of the black-chinned tilapia outbreak to find those responsible for the damages to the occupations of aqua tic animal farmers and the impacts on the ecosystem. They will invite private companies that have applied for permission to import to provide explanations, including bringing samples of black-chinned tilapia that the private sector has preserved and delivered to the Department of Fisheries to compare their genetic structure with the population of tilapia that has spread in several provinces to see if they have a common source. The current Director-General of the Fisheries Department stated that from questioning officials, it did not appear that pickled black chin tilapia was being kept anywhere, but he confirmed that he would cooperate with all sectors if there was any possible method of inspection to provide clarity. This is consistent with what Colonel Thammanat said about the calls from many sectors for importers of black-chinned tilapia for breeding research in Thailand, later found that the outbreak was responsible for economic and ecological damages, which Colonel Thammanat said he did not know if it was true or not. If it was said without supporting evidence, it would cause damage. Blackchin tilapia, scientific name Sarotherodon melanotheron Ruppell, 1852, common name Blackchin tilapia, Thai name Blackchin tilapia or blackchin tilapia, is in the cichlid family (Family Cichlidae). It originated in Africa, found from Mauritania to Cameroon. There are reports of imports to the United States, as well as many countries in Asia and Europe. This type of fish has special characteristics: it can adapt to unsuitable environments very well, which is an advantage in competing for habitats with local fish. It has a wide range of feeding behaviors, and has a very fast reproduction rate. When the black-chinned tilapia escapes into aquaculture ponds or any water source, it causes other fish species to decrease in number and they become the dominant species in that water source instead. Biological characteristics of the black chin tilapia. The commonly found size is about 17.5 centimeters long, with a maximum length o f 28 centimeters. The initial size of the fish is salt-resistant. It can live in freshwater areas in lakes, rivers, and tributaries. It likes to forage on the natural water bottom, eating plants, phytoplankton, zooplankton, shrimp, crabs, shellfish, fish, and fish eggs as food. It can reproduce in both saltwater and freshwater. The parents breed in shallow water near the shore. It is a type of fish that the parents take care of their children (parental care), which is one of the reasons for the high survival rate. The average egg incubation period is 14 days. The population can double in size within 1.4-4.4 years. Black chin tilapia is a non-toxic and edible fish, so farmers are encouraged to use the black chin tilapia removed from natural water sources, such as processing it into sun-dried fish, fish meal, fermenting it to make fish sauce, fermenting it to make organic fertilizer, and using it as bait or food for aquatic animals. Currently, more than 500 tons have been processed nationwide. The Department o f Fisheries and local agencies will urgently publicize and provide correct information on processing it into products and find more sales and distribution channels in the future, such as convenience stores and modern trade, to generate income for fishermen nationwide, which is a way to turn a crisis into an opportunity. Most recently, Mr. Phedim Rod-in, Samut Sakhon Provincial Fisheries Officer, said that the Provincial Fisheries Office has negotiated with fish rafts in the area to be a collection point for purchasing black-chinned tilapia to eliminate them from water sources under the project to solve the problem of the spread of black-chinned tilapia, which affects the ecosystem in water sources of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives and the Department of Fisheries. Samut Sakhon Fisheries announced the minimum purchase price of black-chinned tilapia at the purchase point or in front of the collector's raft, starting at 8 baht per kilogram, and then coordinating with the collector to sell to the fi shmeal factory in the area for disposal at a price of 10 baht. For the rafts and collectors participating in the project, there are 5 items as follows: Phathanu Thong, Village No. 2 (along the Phitthayalongkorn Canal), Bang Ya Phraek Subdistrict, Mueang Samut Sakhon District, Samut Sakhon Province, Tel. 0804646479 Mr. Wichian Lekdee's boat, Village No. 2 (along the Phitthayalongkorn Canal), Bang Ya Phraek Subdistrict, Mueang Samut Sakhon District, Samut Sakhon Province, Tel. 0877407525 Pa Nang Charujan Charoenwipaiboon (Pa Mit), Village No. 2 (along the Phitthayalongkorn Canal), Bang Ya Phraek Subdistrict, Mueang Samut Sakhon District, Samut Sakhon Province, Tel. 0873647298 Mr. Chaiphon Krutthong (Boy), 72 Village No. 6, Yokkrabat Subdistrict, Ban Phaeo District, Samut Sakhon Province (Khlong Chek), Tel. 06 2658 5323 Mr. Chalermphon Ketpan, Village No. 5, Yokkrabat Subdistrict, Ban Phaeo District, Samut Sakhon Province, Telephone No. 087-171-4414 At the same time, it also announced an invitation for ot her rafts or interested citizens to join this project to contact the Samut Sakhon Provincial Fisheries Office, Dem Bang Road, Mueang Samut Sakhon District, Samut Sakhon Province. Source: Thai News Agency