Time's up for sucker fish
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The sucker fish, which is taking over waterways in Phetchabun's Khao Kho district and killing off freshwater jellyfish in the province, will soon be eliminated, officials said.
The sucker fish, also known as the armoured catfish, has taken over the Kheg River and is eating up other fish species in the river, including Phetcha-bun’s famous freshwater jellyfish. The plan to encourage villagers to trade sucker fish they catch for other fish or fertiliser is a good idea, district chief Foosak Dejkla said, though villagers might not take part because catching sucker fish would destroy their nets.
Sucker fish, also known as municipal fish, is kept in aquariums to keep them clean. However, people are prohibited from releasing these fish into public waterways because they eat up other fish and change the ecological balance.
A leader of villagers’ network, Sawasdee Suphrome, said sucker fish can be consumed but is avoided by most because its meat can make the eater “feel drunk”.
