The Department of Fisheries in Thailand has requested DNA samples of blackchin tilapia from Ghana to determine if the invasive fish species currently affecting 17 provinces originated from the African nation.
Bancha Sukkaew, the department’s director-general, stated on Friday (2 August) that a letter was sent to Ghana requesting DNA or sample specimens of blackchin tilapia.
This request follows reports that Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF) imported the fish from Ghana for research and development purposes in 2010.
The DNA data will be used to compare with the invasive species now found in various provinces, including Chanthaburi, Rayong, and Bangkok.
Atthakorn Sirilatthayakorn, Thailand’s deputy minister of agriculture and cooperatives, announced that the government is offering to purchase blackchin tilapia at 15 baht per kilogram for use in making fertilizers.
This initiative aims to remove approximately four million kilos of the invasive fish from waterways and ponds by mid-next year.
Meanwhile, a House subcommittee is seeking legal advice to potentially file a lawsuit against the private company thought to be responsible for the spread, with estimated damages amounting to 10 billion baht ($282,900,000).
Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF) has denied being the source of the outbreak, explaining that although they imported 2,000 blackchin tilapia fingerlings from Ghana in 2010, all the fish died within three weeks, and the project was subsequently terminated.
CPF expressed its willingness to cooperate with government agencies to address the issue, committing to removing two million kilos of the fish from the system and introducing 200,000 predator fish to help eliminate the invasive species.
CPF’s chairman, Prasit Boondoungprasert, insisted that the outbreak was not caused by the company and called for an investigation into the origin of the blackchin tilapia exported by 11 companies to 17 countries between 2013 and 2016.
SOURCE: DAILY MAIL GH
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