Tilapia, once a popular choice among fish-loving Bengalis due to its affordable price and taste, has unexpectedly become the ‘most aggressive species’ and a villain in Thailand.
The Thai government has encouraged its citizens to catch and consume as much tilapia as possible, even offering a double market price as an incentive. This has led to a situation where it seems like the government has issued a ‘hit’ on the fish species. The sole condition for this bounty is to eliminate as many tilapia as possible.
What is the reason?
The government has officially stated that a special type of tilapia called ‘Blackchin’ has spread alarmingly across at least 17 provinces in Thailand. This fish is consuming all other small fish, larvae, shrimp larvae, and shellfish. In other words, due to the tilapia infestation, it is no longer possible to commercially cultivate any other fish.
Even the colorful fish, on which a large part of Thailand’s exports depend, is being severely damaged. So, along with killing the fish, they are also considering how to eliminate tilapia through reproductive means.
