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  1. #1
    Thailand Expat misskit's Avatar
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    Search on for tourist wanted for illegal fishing in southern marine park

    Thailand’s Natural Resources and Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa has ordered park officials to track down a western tourist who was seen, in a widely-shared online post, with a bunch of parrot fish he allegedly caught in the seas off Phi-Phi Leh Island in Hat Noppharat Thara – Mu Ko Phi National Park in the southern province of Krabi.


    The tourist reportedly checked out of his hotel in haste on Wednesday, after the picture of him with the fish went viral on social media. His whereabouts are currently unknown.


    Ratchada Suriyakul Na Ayutthaya, director-general of the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department, told Thai PBS today (Friday) that a complaint has already been filed with the police, seeking their help in tracking down the perpetrator and the owner of the boat, which was hired by the tourist for the fishing trip.


    He said that he has also sought cooperation from tourist and immigration police in finding the tourist.


    He explained that fishing in the national park is against the law, especially the catching of parrot fish, which are important to the ecology of coral reefs.


    Meanwhile, the unidentified tourist has offered an apology via TikTok, saying that he did not know that fishing for parrot fish is illegal in Thailand because he had seen the fish being sold in the market.


    He said he is a professional spear-fisherman who has travelled the world and fished everywhere, adding that he had no clue that he could not fish in the marine park and that no one has ever told him that it is illegal to do so.


    He said he is deeply sorry and will not do it again. “Humans make mistakes,” he said.

    Search on for tourist wanted for illegal fishing in southern marine park | Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world

  2. #2
    Thailand Expat DrWilly's Avatar
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    Yes, because spear fishing in marine parks is allowed worldwide.

    Having said that the boat operator could have simply taken him to a different spot…

  3. #3
    Thailand Expat harrybarracuda's Avatar
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    MANHUNT!

  4. #4
    Elite Mumbler
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    I could understand the mistake if he was a naive tourist who'd only fished at home before. But then he said this:

    Quote Originally Posted by misskit View Post
    He said he is a professional spear-fisherman who has travelled the world and fished everywhere

  5. #5
    Thailand Expat harrybarracuda's Avatar
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    Any, ignoring the children bickering for a minute, have they managed to snare this criminal mastermind?

  6. #6
    Thailand Expat misskit's Avatar
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    Dutchman, 22 Arrested in Phuket for Illegal Spearfishing

    PHUKET – Officials from Thailand’s National Parks service have detained a 22-year-old man from the Netherlands for illegal spearfishing. His arrest came as a response to a TikTok video of him spearfishing endangered parrotfish that drew outrage online.


    22 year-old Roslan Bendenia was detained by national park officials on Monday afternoon in Phuket and taken in for questioning, according to Natural Resources and Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa.


    In the video, the man can be seen holding two endangered parrotfish and three unidentified fish, as well as stabbing a sea eel. The video was posted on the TikTok account @roslanofficial.




    The video showed the man with three parrotfish, two other fish, and stabbing a sea eel, according to Sophon Thongee, director-general of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources.


    It is alleged that Mr Bendenia, 22, hired a boat in Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Koh Phi Phi National Park to travel from Koh Phi Phi Don to Koh Phi Phi Leh. The fishing tour boat captain was Krisana Thodthing.

    A local operator on Koh Phi Phi Don rented him a speargun and he went fishing at Koh Phi Phi Leh around 1pm on Aug 9. According to him, he wasn’t aware that the area was part of a national park.




    The police said they would take legal action against the boat owner and the person who supplied the speargun as well as the man.


    Phuket Tourist Police inspector Pol Lt Col Ekkachai Siri confirmed on Tuesday that Mr Bendenia was living in Phuket. On Monday afternoon, he was questioned by police and park officials at Chalong police station.


    According to Tourist Police in Phuket, Mr Bendenia admitted catching parrotfish but was unaware that it was illegal. He had apologised for his actions and for posting the video on his TikTok account, @roslanofficial.

    Dutchman, 22 Arrested In Phuket For Illegal Spearfishing

  7. #7
    Thailand Expat
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    ^ This is what happens when you feel that you have to document every detail of your life in your social media!

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by misskit View Post
    Dutchman, 22 Arrested in Phuket for Illegal Spearfishing
    That's a buffed Indonesian Cheesehead there . . .



  9. #9
    Thailand Expat harrybarracuda's Avatar
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    Does he has to go and give the marine park a fruit basket or something?

  10. #10
    Thailand Expat
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    I think the minimum is monkhood for three days

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