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Invasive blackchin tilapia outbreak in Thailand

Updated 2 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-09-16 09:35 UTC → 2026-10-05 13:32 UTC · added ~~removed~~

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.

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