4 hours ago, pattjock said:

Technically the captain of the vessel is responsible for what is going on. If he took a tourist on an illegal fishing trip he is the culprit not the tourist just because he is a foreigner.

Great point.

All of the above posts in support of the fisherman? Try doing these things in Australia. You will be fined for being in a boat without a fishing license. Don't dare take a piece of washed up seaweed off the beach to use as garden fertilizer or you will be fined as well.

In the UK they say that ignorance of the law is no defence. However, how the devil is a farang in Thailand to know that a parrot fish is protected? Same for the area the fishing took place. I wouldn't recognise a parrot fish if I bumped into one. 

The person who owns the boat is entirely responsible and should be the one the police are chasing, or is he, being local, a protected species.

 

1 minute ago, jesimps said:

I wouldn't recognise a parrot fish if I bumped into one. 

It would tell you to watch where you are going!

The owner of the boat would know fishing those waters was not permitted... but always easier to speak ill of foreigners than locals!

If he is found there will be a photo session with the Tourist doing a Wai 

And all is forgiven 

But its ok for locals to keep & eat all undersized fish, also every type of pregnant sea food, never to put anything back in. How about setting an example 1st....

this is all about a government official keeping his job

7 hours ago, webfact said:

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

These parrot fish have no class at all hanging around with farang and for all to see.

Stop protecting the foreigner by blaming the Thai man with the boat. Stop excuse his action with the lame and already overused "he is doing like Thais". If this man was fishing a type of fish, that is protected in the area he was fishing, then he has broken the law. If so, then he is rightfully sought for according to the laws, rules and regulations Thailand.

What his punishment should be? That is hard to say. Deportation is to harsh, as he might not have been aware of that it was illegal fishing in the area he was doing it. However, it is a persons responsibility to have the knowledge enough to be aware of their situation and where they are. Actually, if in a national park, all hunting and fishing will be unlawful. Something that everyone have the knowledge about.

I also di not know what posts about the Red Bull guy or calling in the FBI has to do with things. IMO it´s good to hear that they do enforce laws at least in some cases. This time it happened to be a foreigner, and then this forum is on fire blaming all they can on Thais and roaring about how terrible it is to enforce the law.

 

Wonder if it would be the same reaction if it would have been a Thai posting a picture like that on Facebook. (But, now on the other hand, all members in the forum is going to say that it would not have been news in that case). The reality is, that it would have been. That, as the stupidity in all this is to post picture and brag about it online.

3 hours ago, 2baht said:

But think of the pointing this will generate if they catch him! ????????????

Not to mention the big vinyl poster that is no doubt currently being commissioned

3 hours ago, Nicholas Paul KNIGHT said:

You want Tourism Thai Government then act sensibly ok

What makes you think that the government wants tourists? Everything Thailand does points to the opposite.

 

6 hours ago, Willy Wombat said:

Crime of the century.

It's very important to protect our fish as well as our soi dogs and stopping the Chinese from dumping their waste in our waters. Very important!!!

16 minutes ago, vandeventer said:

It's very important to protect our fish as well as our soi dogs and stopping the Chinese from dumping their waste in our waters. Very important!!!

I am not sure they want to share them with us.

Falang hunting, sponsored by Red Bull 

32 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

Stop protecting the foreigner by blaming the Thai man with the boat. Stop excuse his action with the lame and already overused "he is doing like Thais". If this man was fishing a type of fish, that is protected in the area he was fishing, then he has broken the law. If so, then he is rightfully sought for according to the laws, rules and regulations Thailand.

What his punishment should be? That is hard to say. Deportation is to harsh, as he might not have been aware of that it was illegal fishing in the area he was doing it. However, it is a persons responsibility to have the knowledge enough to be aware of their situation and where they are. Actually, if in a national park, all hunting and fishing will be unlawful. Something that everyone have the knowledge about.

I also di not know what posts about the Red Bull guy or calling in the FBI has to do with things. IMO it´s good to hear that they do enforce laws at least in some cases. This time it happened to be a foreigner, and then this forum is on fire blaming all they can on Thais and roaring about how terrible it is to enforce the law.

 

Wonder if it would be the same reaction if it would have been a Thai posting a picture like that on Facebook. (But, now on the other hand, all members in the forum is going to say that it would not have been news in that case). The reality is, that it would have been. That, as the stupidity in all this is to post picture and brag about it online.

Of course its not his fault.  The blame lies solely with the owner of the boat,  He was fishing in the Ocean, how on earth was he supposed to know exactly where the limit of the national park was ?  that would be a set distance from the shoreline would it not ? GPS would be needed to establish the position precisely, but the captain of the boat would be all too aware that he was too close to the shore.

 Fishing in the ocean is not like hunting big game on dry land, there is very little control over what kind of fish is going to take the bait 

 If it wasn't for the surnames of the "government officials"  involved I doubt very much that the police or immigration would bother themselves with this matter which is really nothing more than virtue signalling by the usual "outraged netizens" whatever "netizens" actually means.  Is it even actually a word ? 

3 hours ago, Asquith Production said:

It I go and take some pics of Thais illegally fishing, which I could do, then post it all over social media. Will their still be this over the top reaction?

it will but not the way you think 555

You will be sued for defamation...????

2 hours ago, GreasyFingers said:

All of the above posts in support of the fisherman? Try doing these things in Australia. You will be fined for being in a boat without a fishing license. Don't dare take a piece of washed up seaweed off the beach to use as garden fertilizer or you will be fined as well.

yep....but it does not make the "local" headlines, doesn't it ?

3 hours ago, fulhamster said:

If they know that the tourist has already checked out, then they must know his identity. Immigration should be able to track him down......

You would think so? As he is obviously a major villain and committed a serious crime they will get him when he tries to leave Thailand? Maybe!????

1 hour ago, austhai said:

But its ok for locals to keep & eat all undersized fish, also every type of pregnant sea food, never to put anything back in. How about setting an example 1st....

Only thing they ever put back is the plastic wrapper or polystyrene tray straight into the sea or in a Soi

3 hours ago, mrfill said:

Its a good job the Red Bull heir only killed a policeman while coked up. If he'd gone fishing and caught a parrot fish he'd be behind bars for sure....

are you sure of your statement?????

6 hours ago, Taco said:

On what charges? Fishing like a Thai person?

Nah. He didn't use dynamite or a car battery.

https://www.tridge.com/intelligences/parrot-fish1/TH

8 hours ago, webfact said:

seeking their help in tracking down the perpetrator and the owner of the boat, which was hired by the tourist for the fishing trip.

As much to blame as the tourist if ignorance is to play a part..

He booked a fishing trip possibly a hobby of his back home, thinking it would be a nice trip out..

Possibly oblivious that he couldn't do it in the land of smiles [like a million other things] 

yet the Captain took his money, hunt him down, fine him thousands of baht, tar and feather him, deport him and learn him good.

Let the boat operator off with a 500 baht fine?

 

Stroll on! He’d get less attention if he’d murdered an actual human being but more chance of being caught than a ‘somebody’ who murders policemen. Cynicism aside, if he had a Thai face and name… how’s it go? Oh yes, mai pen rai! 

2 hours ago, shackleton said:

If he is found there will be a photo session with the Tourist doing a Wai 

And all is forgiven 

I don't think so, what about that woman who was caught feeding the fish off the beach at one of the southern islands, I dont think she didn't get off with a wai.

 

Whatever the fisherman did, he shouldn't be hounded out of his hotel and forced to flee. Thailand's Natural resource and environment minister should be transferred to an inactive post and the park rangers be sent on training, then all the tourist charter skippers in all the tourist port brought in for conservation education seminar.

 

But like others have stated, its easier to go after the westerner, no loss of face. 

 

10 minutes ago, daveAustin said:

Stroll on! He’d get less attention if he’d murdered an actual human being but more chance of being caught than a ‘somebody’ who murders policemen. Cynicism aside, if he had a Thai face and name… how’s it go? Oh yes, mai pen rai! 

They would just trot out two Burmese migrant workers to take the the fall.

TIT.

 

 

3 hours ago, klauskunkel said:

 

Park Officials asking some fish at their usual hangout: "Have you seen this guy?"

 

4 hours ago, Tarteso said:

Premeditated murder of fish with a hook. Assassination with treachery and cruelty. First-degree murder…Criminal case.

 

Go figure!

hooks do not kill a fish......it is the way the angler takes the hook out of the fishes mouth that COULD KILL !!!

1 hour ago, blackshadow said:

 

hooks do not kill a fish......it is the way the angler takes the hook out of the fishes mouth that COULD KILL !!!

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.

Just now, Xonax said:

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.

WHEN going fishing one does NOT know what kinda fish one is going to catch  !!!!!!!

The thing I love the most about living in a 3rd world banana republic is that every day here is like 1st April - over and over and over again.

The rampant corrupt, bog standard education, horrific death toll on the roads, the abysmal poverty, the never ending pollution, congested streets, billionaire criminals getting off Scott free, ad infinitum are all ignored by the powers that be, but this, this is such a heinous crime, a man hunt is on the way to bring the culprit to justice. 

Madness, sheer and utter madness!