“Teng Natthapong” led a team to Samut Sakhon to closely monitor the black-striped catfish issue, pressing the government to advance the case regardless of which private company is involved. Meanwhile, “Natcha” warned the Prime Minister that if the issue is ignored, the level of scrutiny will be escalated.
On 19 Jul 2026 at the Thai Sea Market meeting room in Mueang District, Samut Sakhon Province, Mr. Natthapong Ruangpanyawut, party-list MP and leader of the People’s Party (Pop Prachachon) and opposition leader in the House of Representatives, led his party’s MPs, including Mr. Natcha Boonchai-insawat, party-list MP of the same party, to the area for a discussion forum titled “Uniting to Solve the Black-Striped Catfish Issue from Public Voices to Problem-Solving Measures.” Mr. Natthapong addressed whether the government was ignoring or involved in this problem. Beyond a clear plan, budget allocation and manpower deployment are also crucial. Examining the 2027 budget bill, the Special Committee reviewing the annual expenditure bill noted that agencies such as the Department of Fisheries admitted they had not prepared a budget allocation plan for this matter. Ultimately, the key point is how seriously the government will pursue this issue. Today, the Lawyers Council has also provided opinions and updates on the case. It should be remembered that the root cause is the importation of fish species by private companies.
Mr. Natthapong continued that if the government wants to prove to society that it is acting transparently, it should not worry about affecting any private company in the country. The government should proceed with legal action against those causing national impact. Whoever these private companies are, they must face full prosecution because the damage caused should not be remedied with taxpayers’ money, as the true culprits may be private firms importing species. Therefore, he emphasized that the government must seriously advance this issue beyond temporary fixes.
“Natcha” warns the Prime Minister that if ignored, scrutiny will be intensified.
Mr. Natcha added that this is the final warning letter, as they have already proposed comprehensive solutions including declaring a disaster zone, emergency financial assistance, and defining surveillance areas to urge government agencies to act promptly. If the government continues to ignore and take no action, they will escalate oversight by directly questioning the Prime Minister in the next parliamentary session, not just ministers of four ministries. He urged the media to ask the Prime Minister whether he has been monitoring the black-striped catfish situation, which is now 2-3 times worse than the past two years. Many citizens have had to change their livelihoods, yet to date, no clear response has been received from the government.
