Fisheries Department explains that black chinned tilapia eggs can stay outside the male fish's mouth for no more than 1 hour, and recommends proper transportation methods to prevent cross-area outbreaks. Mr. Bancha Sukkaew, Director-General of the Department of Fisheries, revealed that from the situation of the outbreak of the black-chinned tilapia in Thailand, it has been found that the outbreak has spread to 16 provinces. The Department of Fisheries has been expediting the implementation of the policy of Lt. Col. Thammanat Prompao, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives continuously, especially the 5 important measures. However, at this time, there are doubts in society that the eggs of the black-chinned tilapia can withstand the environment outside the mouth of the black-chinned tilapia for up to 2 months and still be able to hatch. From the principles of fisheries, it was found that the behavior of the black-chinned tilapia is that the male fish holds the eggs in his mouth to incubate the eggs. In the mouth, the eggs must receive sufficient moisture and oxygen in order to be ready for the hatching of the fish. Therefore, the eggs of the black-chinned tilapia cannot withstand the dry environment. If the eggs of the black-chinned tilapia are taken out of the water and left until they dry, they will immediately become spoiled and cannot hatch again. Currently, there is no research report that the eggs of the black-chinned tilapia can withstand the dry conditions for up to 2 months and still be able to hatch again. However, when the black chinned tilapia is removed from the water, the eggs in the mouth of the dead male fish can survive in the mouth for about 10-15 minutes, and the eggs that come out of the mouth of the fish can survive in water without oxygen for up to 1 hour. In the case of tilapia eggs that remain on the bottom of the pond that have been dried and sprinkled with lime, the eggs cannot hatch. For fish eggs that have special characteristics that can withstand drought conditions, it can be fou nd in some fish, such as the killifish, which is a small fish with a short life cycle. Which, due to instinct to continue the species, makes this type of fish eggs resistant to various unsuitable conditions. In the dry season, the killifish will lay its eggs on the ground. And when it receives water in the rainy season, it will be able to hatch. It is a different group from the black-chinned tilapia. In addition, the Department of Fisheries also supports government agencies, fishermen, and the public to catch black-chinned tilapia from natural water sources and closed ponds. Once caught, they must be used. The Department of Fisheries has set up purchasing points in every province where outbreaks have been found, with a price of 15 baht per kilogram. Therefore, we would like to recommend the following practices for transporting black-chinned tilapia: 1. Transporting black-chinned tilapia should be done dry to prevent any eggs from surviving. 2. Using black-chinned tilapia as bait or fresh animal feed should use dead fish and make sure that there are no eggs in their mouths . 3. Cleaning equipment used for various activities of black-chinned tilapia, such as using them to make organic fertilizer or animal feed, should be kept away from natural water sources and wastewater ponds to prevent escapes. 4. Transporting fresh fish on ice should be put in bags first to prevent them from coming into contact with ice that may melt during transport. For farmers preparing ponds for aquaculture, the Department of Fisheries has the following recommendations: 1. Add lime or tea waste to kill fish enemies when preparing the pond before putting in the fish fry every time. 2. Use filter bags to filter water from natural water sources into the pond, preventing black chin tilapia, other predators, and fish enemies from entering the pond. 3. If black chin tilapia are found in the pond, they must be caught immediately using nets, traps, or other equipment to control and eliminate them from spreading. 4. If black chin tilapia are found in water sources near the pond, they must be eliminated immediately and the Department of Fisheries must be notified to find a way to control and eliminate them from the water source immediately. 5. If the pond has previously had an outbreak of black chin tilapia, the pond should be dried until the soil is completely dry before pumping water into the pond for re-cultivation. Source: Thai News Agency
