On October 14, the Thai Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives announced a dedicated fund to address the issue of tilapia overpopulation in the country.
In an interview, Panya, the Director of the Fisheries Department, shared that the ministry is implementing various measures to mitigate the impact of the tilapia excess on the nation’s economy, society, and environment.
Recently, the government allocated 4.9 million THB (approximately 1 million RMB) to support relevant fisheries community organizations, local enterprises, homemaker groups, and cooperatives. This funding aims to assist them in producing fermented fish to help manage the tilapia surplus.
The initiative will be rolled out in nine provinces particularly affected by the tilapia invasion, including Chachoengsao, Phetchaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Ayutthaya, Prachinburi, Lopburi, Chonburi, Rayong, and Nakhon Nayok. The funds will be used to purchase tilapia and necessary production supplies.
Panya explained that fermented fish is a popular food item in Thailand, which can be processed into various products such as flavored fish sauce, fermented fish powder, and block-form fermented fish. Currently, numerous brands of fermented fish products are exported to markets in ASEAN, the EU, the Middle East, China, and the United States, generating hundreds of billions of THB in revenue.
He emphasized that sourcing tilapia from affected areas for the production of fermented fish is a viable solution to the overpopulation problem, as it helps eliminate the surplus by increasing market demand.
Moreover, Panya highlighted that this plan not only seeks to alleviate the ecological impact of the tilapia overgrowth but also adds value to locally processed fishery products, thereby furthering the development of grassroots economies.
