Thailand nets 1.3 million kilograms of invasive fish

Thailand has successfully netted over 1.3 million kilograms of the invasive blackchin tilapia fish, as part of the government's efforts to mitigate the damage caused by this species to ecosystems and the fish-farming industry. Originally introduced to Thailand from West Africa in 2010, the fish has spread to 19 provinces, leading to ecological imbalances and economic losses estimated at 10 billion baht ($293 million). In response, the Thai government has launched a national priority eradication effort, complete with incentives for local fish catches, the release of predator species to control the tilapia population, and the development of genetically modified tilapia to produce sterile offspring. The outbreak of blackchin tilapia has been noted in other countries like the US and the Philippines, prompting a UN science panel to highlight the species' destructive behavior in ecosystems as part of a broader issue of alien species invasions, which are estimated to cost over $400 billion in damages and lost income annually.