Govt to promote ornamental fish industry
Bancha Sukkaew, director-general of the Department of Fisheries, said the global ornamental fish market was worth 10 billion baht in 2024. Thailand was among the world's top exporters with 11% of the global market and over 1 billion baht in exports.
'Thailand's climate, species diversity and advanced breeding techniques give us a natural advantage,' Mr Bancha said. 'Thai ornamental fish are highly regarded for their quality and uniqueness.'
Betta fish (Siamese fighting fish), recently designated as Thailand's national aquatic animal, lead exports, generating 400 million baht or 40% of the total.
Other key exports include goldfish (7.3%), guppies and rainbow fish (6.4%), ornamental shrimp (5.8%), and cichlids (3.9%). Major importers include the United States, the EU, and China, he said.
Mr Bancha said the department has the 2023–2027 Ornamental Aquatic Animal Development Action Plan. It includes four strategies and 13 initiatives focusing on breeding, farming, marketing and export promotion.
Efforts are also being made to streamline trade conditions, improve compliance with import regulations and enhance competitiveness through innovation, said Mr Bancha.
A highlight of these promotional efforts was the 35th 'Fisheries Day with Loyalty' event in June. The competition, judged by Japanese experts and attended by Japan's ambassador to Thailand, looked to boost international confidence in Thai breeders.
Looking ahead, Thailand is working with Thailand Post to create an export logistics framework for ornamental fish, helping farmers and SMEs access international markets directly, cutting out middlemen and boosting their earnings, he said.
He said the department also had a recent discussion with Thailand Post to conclude testing of live aquatic animal transport via Thailand Post's delivery system.
The meeting also considered expanding the list of species suitable for shipment beyond the original seven - namely betta fish, platy fish, guppies, frogs, eels, univalve molluscs and eggs, and aquatic plants.
Following testing, three additional species were approved for inclusion: sea grapes, sea lettuce algae, and sea mushrooms.
The Department of Fisheries will add these to the appendix of the memorandum of understanding (MoU), allowing farmers to ship them via the postal system later this month.
In parallel, talks are underway to explore export options for ornamental aquatic animals via Thailand Post.
'This includes drafting a supplementary MoU outlining the scope of cooperation for overseas shipments. The aim is to provide more export channels for breeders, farms and businesses, especially those dealing in betta and ornamental fish, so they can export directly without relying on middlemen,' he said.
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