Invasive Fish Species Devastates Thai River Ecosystems

‘They ate the shrimp, they even ate the crab’: Thai fishers count the cost of a voracious invader

Huge numbers of blackchin tilapia, a fish native to west Africa, are wreaking havoc among Thailand’s river ecosystems. Experts – and some chefs – are seeking sustainable solutions The menu at Kor-Tae seafood restaurant, in Thailand’s Samut Prakan province, is filled with Thai classics – from tom yum talay, a fragrant hot and sour soup, to spicy larb salads. But the restaurant’s chef is also experimenting with a more controversial ingredient: blackchin tilapia. “People are hesitant, but once t...

By Rebecca Ratcliffe