Investigation into Blackchin Tilapia exports by 11 companies

MGR Online•Society•12d ago

Reader Briefing

The Administrative Court has ordered the Department of Fisheries to address the Blackchin Tilapia outbreak following a ruling on state negligence.

•The Voice from the Forest Network requested the Administrative Court to investigate the export of Blackchin Tilapia between 2013 and 2016.
•Records show 11 ornamental fish companies exported over 320,000 Blackchin Tilapia across 222 instances.
•The Central Administrative Court ruled on September 8, 2026, that the Department of Fisheries and its Director-General neglected duties in monitoring research after allowing private imports of alien fish.
•The court ordered the Department of Fisheries to implement control and prevention measures within 180 days.

•The Voice from the Forest Network filed a petition with the Administrative Court to examine state oversight of Blackchin Tilapia imports and exports.
•Between 2013 and 2016, 11 ornamental fish companies exported more than 320,000 fish identified as Blackchin Tilapia (Sarotherodon melanotheron) in 222 shipments.
•State agencies previously claimed the exports were other fish species and the use of the name Blackchin Tilapia resulted from clerical errors.
•The public began recognizing the Blackchin Tilapia outbreak in 2017.
•On September 8, 2026, the Central Administrative Court ruled that the Department of Fisheries and the Director-General of the Department of Fisheries neglected their duties in monitoring and controlling alien fish research.
•The Central Administrative Court ordered the Department of Fisheries and related agencies to execute the Blackchin Tilapia Outbreak Resolution Action Plan 2024–2027 within 180 days.
•The Minister of Interior must consider ordering the Governor of Samut Songkhram to declare emergency disaster relief areas in Amphawa, Mueang Samut Songkhram, and Bang Konthi districts within 90 days of the final judgment.

Full article content is available on the original source.

Voice from the Forest Network(เครือข่ายเสียงจากป่า)

A network that filed a petition with the Administrative Court to investigate the import and export of Blackchin Tilapia.

Administrative Court(ศาลปกครอง)ℹ️

The judicial body requested to investigate state agencies' duties regarding Blackchin Tilapia.

Central Administrative Court(ศาลปกครองกลาง)

The court that ruled on the negligence of the Department of Fisheries and ordered disaster relief considerations in Samut Songkhram.

Department of Fisheries(กรมประมง)

The agency ruled by the court to have neglected duties in monitoring and controlling alien fish research.

Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives(กระทรวงเกษตรและสหกรณ์)

The ministry ordered to supervise and support resources for the Blackchin Tilapia control measures.

Director-General of the Department of Fisheries(อธิบดีกรมประมง)

The official ruled by the Central Administrative Court to have neglected duties in monitoring and controlling alien fish research.

Minister of Interior(รัฐมนตรีว่าการกระทรวงมหาดไทย)ℹ️

The official ordered to consider directing the Governor of Samut Songkhram to declare emergency relief areas.

Governor of Samut Songkhram(ผู้ว่าราชการจังหวัดสมุทรสงคราม)

The official who may be ordered to declare emergency disaster relief areas in Samut Songkhram province.

Samut Songkhram Province(จังหวัดสมุทรสงคราม)ℹ️

The province where the court recommended declaring emergency relief areas for those affected by Blackchin Tilapia.

Amphawa District(อำเภออัมพวา)ℹ️

A district in Samut Songkhram province designated for potential emergency disaster relief.

Mueang Samut Songkhram District(อำเภอเมืองสมุทรสงคราม)ℹ️

A district in Samut Songkhram province designated for potential emergency disaster relief.

Bang Konthi District(อำเภอบางคนที)

A district in Samut Songkhram province designated for potential emergency disaster relief.

Blackchin Tilapia Outbreak Resolution Action Plan 2024–2027(แผนปฏิบัติการแก้ไขปัญหาการแพร่ระบาด พ.ศ. 2567–2570)

The action plan the court ordered the Department of Fisheries to follow to stop the fish outbreak.