We'll catch YOU! Chinese illegally harpooning tropical fish in Phuket

 

Picture: Manager Online

 

A fan page in Phuket featured information and pictures of a guide and a small group of Chinese tourists illegally harpooning tropical fish at Nui Beach.

 

Coastal resources officials became aware of the violation of environmental regulations and intend to go after the group to the full extent of the law.

 

Local environmental chief Yuthaphon Angkinan said there were three kinds of fish in the group's catch - all were restricted species that cannot be hunted and even though there were not many, their removal can damage the ecosystem. 

 

With much of Thailand's national parks closed this is a good time for the ecosystem to recover, he said, not be further damaged by tourists.

 

Source: Manager Online

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-04-07

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I'll reserve my comment, I don't want to incriminate myself! ????

What? Are there still Chinese tourists in Thailand? How is that possible?

5 minutes ago, RotMahKid said:

What? Are there still Chinese tourists in Thailand? How is that possible?

Insurgents!

10 minutes ago, RotMahKid said:

What? Are there still Chinese tourists in Thailand? How is that possible?

What, now just wait a minute, I can hear it now.....No food, and we have to feed ourselves somehow.....the government wont let us go home, can you not see we are also sleeping in the open like the three backpackers, why did they get free food and accommodations.....please help....no one will send money to our GoFundMe page.....how does that work for you

Interesting to see what happens here, didnt some guy get find a shed load just for feeding them, sorry he was a Farang

They'll be raiding the bat caves in Krabi next ...

6 minutes ago, Phuketshrew said:

They'll be raiding the bat caves in Krabi next ...

I thought the Bat cave was in Gotham city, somebody moved it?????

5 minutes ago, colinneil said:

I thought the Bat cave was in Gotham city, somebody moved it?????

No, they moved it from Krabi to Gotham city

I see parrot fish, a surgeon fish, and what looks to be a file fish.  Back in the day ( a month or so ago) I would see these same fish for sale at all the markets.  

 

I'm all for prosecuting anyone breaking the law, but the law should be applied equally, to the fisherman that use nets, or to Chinese who are spear fishing, or harpooning, or whatever this is called. Is spear fishing without using a tank illegal?

 

How about fining the fisherman that indiscriminately catch these same fish?  I'd much rather see them in the ocean than on a tray collecting flies waiting to be sold at a market.

 

44 minutes ago, PatOngo said:

I'll reserve my comment, I don't want to incriminate myself! ????

I'll  do it for you. like a plague  of  locusts, the only thing  important to Chinese  is  money although I'm sure  given half  the chance the locals  would  also  join in with them.

Thais  seem to strip anything bare, take  the smallest  of  fish until  nothing is left, just  look at their  illegal fishing in the gulf for starters, then look at the workers they employ in atrocious  conditions of virtual slave labour, no doubt the Navy could  step in  if they weren't  busy also  joining in with the Rohignya people trafficking etc

Yep sea will be like forests soon.

I got excited this morning on my forest walk saw a few ants.

2 hours ago, webfact said:

and intend to go after the group to the full extent of the law.

what?? - only 'intend' to pursue!! 

 

so they were with a guide, why hasnt the guide been charged seeing they were supposed to be supervising them especially if it was in a marine park, will be interesting to see if the chinese are actually fined and charged or let off so they dont upset chinese tourists, expect this to disappear as per usual so no one loses face

Judging from some of my Thai FB friends they are doing exactly the same. Catching tropical fish to feed their families and sell a few to neighbours. 

 

But it seems that in the current climate anything that a non Thai does is probably illegal.

4 hours ago, ChipButty said:

Interesting to see what happens here, didnt some guy get find a shed load just for feeding them, sorry he was a Farang

That was a Russian lady feeding bread to the fish out of a tourist boat she hired....she had to pay 100.000 iirc....and others were caught with sea shells they collected, their landlord lady called the police and they also had to pay 100.000... 

5 hours ago, RotMahKid said:

What? Are there still Chinese tourists in Thailand? How is that possible?

Yes....they own the place!

Cat 'o' nine

They won’t get in trouble, they will just send them back-they are saviors 

6 hours ago, RotMahKid said:

What? Are there still Chinese tourists in Thailand? How is that possible?

TAT will be overjoyed.  Millions more where they came from.  Sell those zero-Baht tours, and start up those white busses.

Well they eat anything that walks, crawls, slithers or flies why not tropical fisb

8 hours ago, PatOngo said:

I'll reserve my comment, I don't want to incriminate myself! ????

Same with me , no chink in my armour for anyone to have a go at me.

6 hours ago, seajae said:

so they were with a guide, why hasnt the guide been charged seeing they were supposed to be supervising them especially if it was in a marine park, will be interesting to see if the chinese are actually fined and charged or let off so they dont upset chinese tourists, expect this to disappear as per usual so no one loses face

If the guide is licenced surelt they will remove his licence and fine him, confiscate his equipment he uses in the marine park.

 

Ever since the National Parks are closed, illegal fisherman - mostly in longtail boats move in and fish out with nets and bottom fishing what they can get. The "guards" employed by the national park authorities open their hands for freebie fish and that's it.

When the next high season approaches there is only tiny fish left, the rest is gone - stolen by the illegal fisherman - supported by the national park rangers.

These guys not only fish with harpoons, they use nets and also destroy the coral at the same time.

This "sport" is not new and has been going on since ever, the problem is their equipment is becoming more sophisticated, so the damage these illegal fisherman cause is getting much worse.

21 hours ago, Phuketshrew said:

They'll be raiding the bat caves in Krabi next ...

I thought the "Bat cave" was in Griffith park below the Hollywood sign?

Whenever I come across an article like this one that has the word " Chi.... " I don't read forward because I already have clue about the ending.

Chinese tourists arrested for illegal spearfishing in protected area

 

https://www.thephuketnews.com/chinese-tourists-arrested-for-illegal-spearfishing-in-protected-area-75644.php?fbclid=IwAR3AOWcuegY8ai0xJvxvcjcdFClQKrx-s1gOJkh74IX756qJ-LT1Y8y88es

After two days of investigation Karon police said they did not find any evidence the Chinese tourists did spear fishing , the photo posted on facebook are fake, rumors will face investigation!