Thailand is battling an invasive fish invasion from Africa. Since the campaign began, more than 1.3 million kilograms of blackfin tilapia have been caught.

Thailand continues a massive operation to combat blackfin tilapia, an invasive fish threatening the country’s ecosystems and farming industry. According to government figures, more than 1.3 million kilogrammes of this aggressive fish have been caught between February and the end of August 2024, highlighting the seriousness of the problem.

The blackfin tilapia (Latin: Sarotherodon melanotheron), native to West Africa, was first discovered in Thai waters in 2010. However, its rapid spread only began in 2018, and today, it is already found in Thailand, the American states of Florida, and the Philippines. This fish can produce up to 500 fry at a time, making it highly prolific and dangerous to local ecosystems.

The blackfin tilapia is currently found in 19 provinces in Thailand. It is destroying small fish, shrimp, and snail larvae in rivers, marshes, and canals, threatening biodiversity and jeopardising the country’s important fish farming industry.

According to Nattachi Boonchayinsawat, vice-chairman of a parliamentary committee set up to fight the spread of black-spotted tilapia, the damage from the fish invasion could reach 10 billion baht (about US$293 million). He also noted that the situation is worsening, with fish beginning to enter small canals where they had not been seen before.

In July 2024, the Thai government declared the fight against blackfin tilapia a national priority. Authorities launched a vigorous campaign to promote the fish’s consumption, organising promotional events in the central province of Phetchaburi, where tilapia-based products such as fish sauces and sausages were promoted. Restaurants have also started to include tilapia more frequently on their menus, offering it fried with garlic or dried.

To curb the spread of the fish, the government has invited locals to catch blackfin tilapia, paying 15 baht (about US$0.42) per kilogram. In addition, 75 marketplaces have been set up nationwide to sell the caught fish. Authorities have also released predatory fish species into water bodies to prey on the tilapia and have begun developing genetically modified individuals that will produce sterile offspring.

The reasons for the appearance of blackfin tilapia in Thailand are still unclear. Local media speculate that the fish may have been imported into the country by a Ghanaian company in 2010. A parliamentary inquiry is currently underway to determine the exact circumstances of this invasive species.

The problem of invasive species such as the blackfin tilapia is global. According to a UN scientific panel, more than 37,000 alien species have spread far beyond their places of origin, causing more than $400 billion a year in damage to ecosystems and economies. These species destroy local ecosystems, spread disease, and destroy crops.

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