The Fisheries Department has banned the importing, keeping and raising of three kinds of cichlid fish to protect native species and the aquaculture sector.
The ban on the invasive fish took effect on March 19 and was imposed under Section 65 of the Fisheries Act, the National News Bureau reported.
It quoted director-general Adisorn Promthep as saying the ban was in response to complaints from fish farmers that cichlids were adapting too well in natural and manmade water sources. They had found their way into canals, rivers and fish farms, where they prey on wild and farmed fish species - especially in Chumphon, Kanchanaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Phetchaburi, Samut Prakan and Samut Songkhram provinces.
The department has ordered owners to hand over three types of cichlids: Blackchin tilapia, Mayan cichlid and Zebra tilapia.
Violators of the ban are liable to a maximum penalty of one year in prison and/or a fine of 1 million baht.
People can still eat or sell the fish they catch, but they must be killed before being retailed.
Researchers must also seek permission to raise these fish for study purposes.