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4 clusters · 6 sources · 24 days · First seen · Last updated

Invasive blackchin tilapia outbreak in Thailand

Overview

The Thai government has initiated a large-scale response to combat the spread of invasive blackchin tilapia across 21 provinces. Led by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, the strategy involves deploying rapid response task forces, utilizing predator fish for population control, and converting captured specimens into fertilizer or fishmeal. In Kalasin province, the species has been repeatedly detected in the Lam Pao Dam. In September 2026, inspections confirmed the discovery of four additional fish, marking the fourth detection in the reservoir that month. Necropsies revealed two females were prepared for spawning. While the Department of Fisheries noted the density has not yet reached the threshold of 10 fish per 100 square meters required to declare an emergency disaster zone, officials are coordinating with fishermen to conduct surveys and removals, particularly at dawn when the fish surface for air. To address the infestation, which is now considered a national agenda, Deputy Minister Wacharaphol Khaokham announced that 29 agencies have convened to integrate control efforts. The government has approved approximately 350 million baht from the central budget to implement seven established measures. Additionally, the Department of Fisheries has allocated 15 million baht for urgent actions specifically targeting the Lam Pao Dam to prevent the species from spreading to connected water routes in provinces such as Udon Thani. Legal teams are also investigating the cause of the spread to identify those responsible for introducing the fish into new areas. By early October 2026, local fishermen around the Lam Pao Dam reported an increasing infestation, noting that since August 31, more than 200 blackchin tilapia have been caught, many containing eggs. Fishers warned that the species has adapted well to freshwater, making them difficult to distinguish from native tilapia.

Entities

Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives · Lam Pao Dam · Department of Fisheries · Thailand · Suwat Khemthanaphet

Timeline

  1. [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    Lam Pao Dam fishers warn of blackchin tilapia infestation

    Fishermen at Lam Pao Dam in Kalasin, Thailand, report a growing infestation of blackchin tilapia that has adapted to freshwater and is difficult to distinguish from native tilapia.

  2. [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    Thailand allocates 350 million baht to combat blackchin tilapia spread

    Thai authorities are deploying 350 million baht to combat the spread of invasive blackchin tilapia, focusing on urgent containment efforts at the Lam Pao Dam in Kalasin.

  3. [INTERNATIONAL] 3 sources
    Blackchin tilapia detected in Kalasin's Lam Pao Dam

    Invasive blackchin tilapia have been detected for the fourth time in Kalasin's Lam Pao Dam. Officials are monitoring the species to prevent it from reaching shrimp farms and spreading further.

  4. [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Thailand deploys task forces to combat blackchin tilapia in 21 provinces

    Thailand is deploying rapid response task forces across 21 provinces to control the invasive blackchin tilapia outbreak and is seeking 350 million baht in additional funding to protect ecosystems.

Sources

77kaoded.news · innnews.co.th · khaothaitoday.com · naewna.com · ptp.or.th · thaipost.net

This summary has been updated 2 times: see revision history