Drama "Fish food seller" At the well-known Bang Nam Priao temple, a man selling fish food spoke rudely to locals who came to make merit by feeding the fish. The abbot has since ordered his immediate dismissal from temple duties.
An online controversy arose after a social media user posted a clip showing himself bringing a sack of fish food to feed fish at the famous Bang Nam Priao temple in Chachoengsao province. However, the man overseeing the temple's fish food platform spoke inappropriately to him. The clip was recorded on the user's phone and shared online, prompting widespread criticism from netizens.
On 7 May 2026, Mr. Keerin Chamsomboon, chief of Prong Akat Subdistrict Administrative Organization, and officials visited Prong Akat temple to investigate the facts. Observing the fish feeding platform, they did not find the man in question present. They then met with the temple abbot, finding Phra Kru Palat Suthep Chantasilo, 47, abbot of Prong Akat temple.
Phra Kru Palat Suthep said he learned of the incident from devotees who called him yesterday. He admitted no prior direct complaints about the man's behavior had been received until the issue surfaced on social media. Upon learning of the matter, he immediately ordered the man to leave his temple duties to assure the devotees' peace of mind.
Regarding public concern over income from fish food sales, the temple clarified that all proceeds belong to the temple and are used to maintain the fish ponds. Since the ponds operate as a closed system, regular water changes are necessary, especially in the dry season, sometimes up to five times per month, costing over 10,000 baht each time.
Additionally, the temple uses solar power to run water treatment turbines during the day and electric motors to oxygenate the water at night to prevent pollution and fish deaths. Previously, fish have died from polluted water, forcing temple novices to manually pump fresh water to save them. The temple's monthly electricity costs for motors and overall temple power consumption total about 50,000 baht.
The temple assures that it has never prohibited or discouraged devotees from bringing their own fish food, even in sacks. However, it requests cooperation to feed the fish appropriately, as overfeeding causes uneaten food to sink and pollute the water, depleting oxygen and turning a merit act into a harmful one by killing fish.
Devotees wishing to donate large amounts of fish food are encouraged to give it directly to the temple. This allows the temple to allocate food properly each day, reduce water pollution, and sustainably maintain the fish pond ecosystem.