Fisheries Department officials organized a campaign to catch Blackchin tilapia fish in a canal in Phra Samut Chedi district of Samut Prakan today. They are allowing fishermen to use push nets in 19 provinces where the non-indigenous species is spreading.
The push nets were, however, found to be impractical and ineffective, because there are many tree branches in the canal. The fishermen then turned to the use of ordinary fishing nets and they managed to catch more than a tonne of the fish.
Somporn Kuasakul, the provincial fisheries chief, said today that this is the third time they have attempted to get rid of Blackchin tilapia in natural watercourses, with the aim of eliminating as many of the 3cm or larger fish as possible, before sea bass are released to get rid of smaller ones.
He said that part of the catch will be distributed to people in the district to be eaten and the rest will be processed into bio extracts.
Permission to use push nets in natural watercourses to catch Blackchin tilapia is due to expire at the end of this year.
