In a number of ways, economic concerns affected Thai society and the economy in 2024, writes Apinya Wipatayotin.
PUBLISHED: 31 Dec 2024 at 04: 00
1 War of the mysterious fish
The end of the year is just around the corner, but the government ‘ search for the culprits behind the widespread scatter of blackchin fish has not yet produced any fruitful findings.
For several weeks, this invasive species of mysterious bass has caused great harm to Thailand’s market and ecosystems.
In July, some shellfish farmers in Samut Songkhram territory reported a sudden drop in their aquaculture and the discovery of the aggressive fish on their farms.
They claimed that the bass, which they believed had been released carelessly into open waters, were preying on the farmed shrimp.
Problems resulting from a decline in the local aquatic population caused by the blackchin fish were reported in adjacent provinces, particularly along the Mae Klong River.
79 regions in 19 counties were officially designated as areas impacted by the fish by the Fisheries Department in August.
They comprised Chanthaburi, Rayong, Chachoengsao, Samut Prakan, Nonthaburi, Bangkok, Nakhon Pathom, Ratchaburi, Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram, Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Songkhla, Chonburi, Phatthalung and Prachin Buri.
Environmental activists and academics who are concerned about the local water ecosystem’s deterioration as a result of the significant loss of private aquatic animals, expressed strong concerns about this.
The conflict has resulted in a legal fight between BioThai, a non-governmental organization, and CP Foods Plc ( CPF), whose research facility conducted a project to breed blackchin tilapia and was located in the region where the spread was first discovered.
BioThai claimed the business was to blame and demanded payment for the economic harm.
The business refuted the claim, claiming that the fish, which were reportedly imported from Ghana for study in December 2010 with the Department of Fisheries ‘ approval, all perished within a quarter of entry.
As a result, the company abruptly terminated the job, it said, insisting that none of the 2, 000 imported bass were released into outdoor surroundings.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, claiming the case had already been filed in court, declined to more research or provide information to the public.
Local businesses and officials have engaged in coordinated efforts to remove the estimated three million kilos of aggressive fish from the habitat.
They include natural control measures like the release of predatory species into the waterways in the affected areas and initiatives to encourage people to catch fish for use and offer them to state officials so they can be used as fertilizers and fish sauce.