More than 100 blackchin tilapia fish were caught in Kalasin’s Lam Pao Reservoir yesterday and on Thursday, but fisheries officials claim that the spread of the alien fish species is still limited.
The officials said that the blackchin tilapia is only restricted in three districts of Kalasin, namely Nong Kung Si, Sam Chai and Sahatsakhan, adding that, even though the numbers found were small, they were sufficient to designate the areas as a propagating zone of blackchin tilapia.
Local fishermen said they found fish thought to be blackchin tilapia in Lam Pao Reservoir about two years ago, but were not certain that they were the alien fish species until February this year, when they caught more and alerted the officials.
A voluntary group of local fishermen was formed, at the urging of fisheries officials, to deal with blackchin tilapia with a promise to provide the fishermen with fishing equipment.
Blackchin tilapia is an alien fish species from Africa which thrive and propagate quickly in natural watercourses, posing a serious threat to native species wherever they propagate.
