Blackchin tilapia invasion spreads across Thai provinces, hitting shrimp farmers and fishers

The invasive West African fish, first detected in Thailand in 2011, has spread to at least 19 provinces, disrupting shrimp farming and coastal fishing livelihoods.

• Blackchin tilapia, first reported spreading in Samut Songkhram in 2011, has infiltrated at least 19 Thai provinces.
• Shrimp farmer Wallop Khunjaen said the fish consumed nearly all of his million baby shrimp in two months, forcing him to abandon the farm.
• Fishers have filed a lawsuit against Charoen Pokphand Foods, accusing it of introducing the fish; the company rejected the claim, saying all imported fish were destroyed.
• Thai authorities have released Asian sea bass as predators, developed sterile blackchin tilapia, and paid fishers to remove thousands of tonnes.