Fisheries Dept neglected duty to prevent spread of blackchin tilapia

[Coss]

The Central Administrative Court today ruled that the Fisheries Department had failed to properly monitor the importation of blackchin tilapia for research and had neglected its duty to prevent the spread of non-native species.

The court ordered the department to continue measures to control and eradicate the spread of invasive blackchin tilapia.

The court also ordered the Interior Ministry to consider directing the Samut Songkhram governor to declare areas affected by the spread of the species as “emergency disaster assistance zones”, so that affected residents can receive government assistance.

The ruling follows a lawsuit filed by 54 people affected by the spread of blackchin tilapia, which has caused widespread concern among fishermen and fish farmers in several provinces. ... LINK