The Fisheries Department has chosen the Siamese giant carp, or Kra Ho, as Bangkok's symbolic fish as it attempts to raise conservation awareness of the endangered freshwater species.
Wasant Sriwatthana, acting chief of the Fisheries Technology Transfer and Development Bureau, said he has written to inform the Bangkok governor about the move.
City Hall has been asked to publicise the matter so Bangkok residents can bolster efforts to protect the fish.
He said the Fisheries Department has launched a campaign to preserve freshwater fish and animal species native to each locality.
Mr Wasant said the department has asked each province to survey potentially endangered species. He said species identified as being endangered will be adopted as each province's symbol.
He said the Siamese giant carp is found mainly in the Chao Phraya River and its population has declined sharply mostly due to pollution and overfishing.
The Lop Buri Fisheries and Research Development Centre has bred young Siamese giant carp for release into local waters.
Mr Wasant said His Majesty the King in 1984 asked the Fisheries Department to experiment with artificial insemination of carp raised in ponds at Chitralada Palace.
The department succeeded in artificially breeding fish in the palace pond the following year, he said.