BANGKOK, Feb 6 (TNA) – The Thai Cabinet has approved the Siamese Fighting Fish, or Betta splendens, as the national aquatic animal, as proposed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives.
Assistant Government Spokesman Colonel Athisit Chainuwat told journalists that the Thai Cabinet made the decision at its weekly meeting at Bangkok’s Government House on February 5.
The assistant spokesman stated that the Cabinet’s official resolution followed an initial approval of the Siamese Fighting Fish, or the Siamese Betta, as the national aquatic animal by the National Identity Committee for its outstanding cultural attribute and its recent registration as Thailand’s cultural heritage by the Ministry of Culture.
The assistant spokesman acknowledged the Siamese Fighting Fish has become a cultural and historical legend and identity for the nation for a long time, witnessed by its name showing its origin that has been widely recognized internationally.
Besides, the breeding of the Siamese Fighting Fish has brought about innovative commercial and fishery benefits, as well as economic values tremendously to the nation with the “Thai identity”, like the Japanese Carp Fish. (TNA)
The Thai identity of the Siamese Fighting Fish also prevents it from being patented by other countries, based on the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. (TNA)
