Introduction

        Ornamental fish and plants have been raised and exported in Thailand for many years.Traditional activity have involved selection of desirable characteristics and improvement of the breeding stocks. Today, many breeders are encouraged by the potential profits and have improved the breeding technique and increased the production of various ornamental fish and plant species. Thailand has good climate, land, water resources and man power suitable for the ornamental fish and plants business. Governmental couries by the Department of Fisheries is now supporting the business by setting up the project  of research in aquarium fish and stablished the ornamental fish and plants export centre, which is aimed to expand the value of export.

The potential of ornamental fish and plants industry in Thailand

        Through years of scientific research, fish breeding and culture techniques have been developed and well established in Thailand leading to the success of mass breeding of many native ornamental fish and plant species as well as some exotic species like discus, oscar and angel fish etc. Many of Thai breeders are specialized in specific groups of fish such as betta, discus, gold fish, red tailed shark, guppy etc. The varieties of fresh water fish in Thai market is more than 300 species, of which 200 species are native to Thailand.

The Business

        Thailand is regarded in the ornamental fish and plants business as one of the big exporters of the world. It exports to over 50 countries worldwide, and its export value is over US $ 20 million annually. The main markets of Thai ornamental fish and plants are European Union (espacially Germany, U.K., Netherlands, France, Italy and Spain), USA., Singapore, Japan and Hong Kong.

        Many Thai breeders have good experience in fish breeding in specific fish species. Only freshwater fishes are bred for commercial purpose. Some marine fish were bred successfully only in the laboratory. Size of the fish farm depends on the species of fish, but mostly small. Most aquarium fish farms are found in Bangkok and surrounding provinces, such as Rachaburi, Nonthaburi, Chacherngsoa, Nakornpatom and Suphanburi. Thai fish breeders breed many kinds of fishes such as betta, gold fish, pangasius, platy, sword tail, guppy, molly, tetra and discus.The biggest producer is Rachaburi which is famous from breeding river fishes, guppy and gold fish.Bangkok is the discus fish centre while Nakornpatom is the biggest farm for betta.

Varieties of the products

        There are over three hundred species of freshwater aquarium fish, both native and exotic, found in the market.  Local river fish that can be bred are over 30 species which are in the group of Cyprinidae, Siluliform, Bilontidae, and Osphornemidae. Many kinds of introduced fish can be bred successfully in Thailand such as discus, cichids, angel, gold fish,  oscar, livebearers and characins. The main groups of fish sold to foreign markets are Siamese  fighting fish, gold fish, barb, red tailed shark, bala shark, catfish, rasbora, loach, danio, swordtail, angel fish, guppy, platy, molly, tetra, gourami, koi, discus and other cichlids. There is a trend amongst breeders to specialise in breeding exquisite varieties and species, like the many varieties of discus, gold fish and guppy, and the endangered species such as Siamese tiger fish, long-fin pangasius and dragon fish. For marine aquarium fish, there are more than one hundred native species, mostly caught from the sea in Phuket and Rayong province. Many of marine fish are imported from Philippines, Indonesia, Red Sea country, USA. and Australia. .

Distribution and marketing system  

        The distribution and marketing channel for the ornamental fish and plants in Thailand is relatively well developed. The exporter or wholesaler plays an important role in linking up the producers/breeders and consumers. The breeders, who is specialised in breeding the exquisite varieties and species, and the farmers, who focuses on producing the popular variaties and commercially species, usually sell their fish to the wholesalers. The wholesalers, could also be importers, buying fish from farms in their region. Wholesalers usually sell the fish to exporters or local retailers. Exporters would in turn sell the fish to importers overseas, while retailers sell the   fish directly to the lacal hobbyists. Producers or breeders may also sell their fish directly to exporter. Nowsdays, contact farming is being more common. Sometimes, exporters have also turned to farming to guarantee a stable supply for themselves.

Government support to the business  

        Ornamental fish and plants bussiness in Thailand are now being promoted by the Department of Fisheries to increase the value of export. The Institute of Ornamental Fish and Plants Development is the main government institute providing support to the industry by transfering new technologies to farmers through training, giving selected broodfish and other technical services. The policy of the institute is to present the useful and up-to-date information in suitable form to farmers, exporters and others involved in this field. Another activity of the institute is to create an accreditation scheme for exporters. The use of the scheme is to ensure that strict control is consistenly exercised so that only high quality fish and plants are exported. Members would need to have dedicated packing premises with adequate tank and packing facilities, footbaths at entrance to the farmgate and reservoir tanks for potable water for packing. All fish consignments are packed in new plastic bags and shipped in new polystyrofoam boxes.Under the scheme, the institute routinly collect the samples of water, fish and plants for labolatory examinination of pathogens. The institute confirms the absence of certain kinds of virus and bacteria in the fish and plants held by the exporters and farmers.