Something’s fishy: Farmers demand answers over blackchin tilapia spread
Approximately 150 farmers from 19 provinces assembled outside the Government House yesterday, January 13, to submit a letter to the government. They demanded the identification of those responsible for the spread of blackchin tilapia fish and requested support for the affected farmers.
The letter, delivered by the group’s leader Panya Toktong to Pansak Charoen, a specialist at the Prime Minister’s Office, outlined four primary demands. These included the creation of an independent committee to identify those accountable for the fish spread within 30 days, prompt financial relief for farmers and affected individuals, formation of committees to eliminate the fish and restore ecosystems by 2026, and legal action against those responsible to ensure compensation for the damages.
In addition, the group visited Parliament to submit further letters to the committee on political development, public participation, human rights, freedom, and consumer protection. They urged expedited action to address the issue and its consequences.
Earlier in the day, the group delivered a letter to the Charoen Pokphand Group (CP Group) at the CP Tower on Silom Road, urging the company to accept responsibility. The letter insisted that CP Group and Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF) strictly comply with biosecurity laws concerning the import of alien species.
It also requested that CPF allocate a portion of its recent 7.3 billion baht profit to mitigate the damage caused by the fish spread and other environmental issues, such as PM2.5 pollution. Furthermore, it encouraged CPF, as a major public company, to engage constructively with critics rather than resorting to legal action to silence dissent.
A CP Group representative received the letter, which will be discussed at the company’s forthcoming board meeting.
Bancha Sukkaew, Director General of the Department of Fisheries, noted that the situation concerning the invasive fish has significantly improved. Data from the previous month indicated that the number of affected provinces had decreased from 19 to 17, with some provinces showing minimal species presence, reported Bangkok Post.
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