A Hungarian man is facing legal action after he touched a pipefish while he was diving at Pha Ngan Island.

 

The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) Office told the Phuket Express that a video clip was posted on a YouTube channel this week with the message “Scuba Diving in Paradise, Koh Pha Ngan, Thailand”.

 

The diver was touching a pipefish which is illegal to touch or catch the pipefish by law. The DMCR filed a report to the Koh Pha Ngan Police and the video went viral on Thai social media, with many Thai nationals outraged. Some critics, however, said the diving company or boat operator should have properly warned the man. However, the man was not a tourist and was an ex-pat, the DMCR stated.

 

Full Story: https://thepattayanews.com/2023/05/11/hungarian-man-facing-legal-action-after-touching-pipefish-while-diving-at-pha-ngan-island/

 

-- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2023-05-11

 

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He didn't eat it.......................Gawd.....

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with many Thai nationals outraged.

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Oh please, were many Thai nationals really outraged? This seems to be a stock phrase often used in news reports about events in Thailand.  I assume that it's The Pattaya News that is the guilty party.  Quite frankly, I expect most Thai nationals couldn't give a fig.....

Social media caught up with this guy under his own undertaking  ....  haha ....  how stupid is he ..

throw his sorry ass in jail for a month ... 

 

 

3 minutes ago, steven100 said:

throw his sorry ass in jail for a month ... 

....for touching a fish????

53 minutes ago, simon43 said:

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with many Thai nationals outraged.

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Oh please, were many Thai nationals really outraged? This seems to be a stock phrase often used in news reports about events in Thailand.  I assume that it's The Pattaya News that is the guilty party.  Quite frankly, I expect most Thai nationals couldn't give a fig.....

99% of Thai's wouldn't even know a pipefish from a puffer fish ..    outraged ... what BS , who makes this up ?

Tourist or expat, this Hungarian I'm sure didn't know that touching a pipefish was illegal.

 

 

2 minutes ago, josephbloggs said:

....for touching a fish????

if that's what the law states  ...  but maybe not a month,  a few days anyway.

2 minutes ago, anchadian said:

Tourist or expat, this Hungarian I'm sure didn't know that touching a pipefish was illegal.

 

 

send him to the front line ... he can dream all the pipefish he wants there   !!

1 minute ago, anchadian said:

Tourist or expat, this Hungarian I'm sure didn't know that touching a pipefish was illegal.

 

 

Yes, folk snorkel/dive to mingle with the undersea wildlife, a reason why we learn about the creatures there.

 

I've read that rat snakes are a protected species, but nothing is done about the locals killing them coz they think they are lethal cobras.  

4 minutes ago, transam said:

Yes, folk snorkel/dive to mingle with the undersea wildlife, a reason why we learn about the creatures there.

 

you can mingle all you like ... just don't try to be a Jacques Cousteau and paste it all over social media

A reported Troll post and replies have been removed.

1 minute ago, steven100 said:

you can mingle all you like ... just don't try to be a Jacques Cousteau and paste it all over social media

How do you think people start out in their quest for knowledge, how do you think Cousteau started out, do you think a fish swing through your hand was never done, do you think this blokes fish perished or was damaged in any way, I don't think so................... 

2 minutes ago, transam said:

How do you think people start out in their quest for knowledge, how do you think Cousteau started out, do you think a fish swing through your hand was never done, do you think this blokes fish perished or was damaged in any way, I don't think so................... 

I think you misunderstood what I meant .....  in my opinion,   touch, kiss, handle,  rub...  any thing you like under the water while diving ....  just don't put it on social media .....       we don't know all the silly rules in Thailand.

1 hour ago, simon43 said:

This seems to be a stock phrase often used in news reports about events in Thailand.

 not just in thailand but all of social media. clicks clicks clicks. 

2 minutes ago, steven100 said:

I think you misunderstood what I meant .....  in my opinion,   touch, kiss, handle,  rub...  any thing you like under the water while diving ....  just don't put it on social media .....       we don't know all the silly rules in Thailand.

But folk learn from the media, I watch YouTube near every night on different subjects....

1 hour ago, simon43 said:

Oh please, were many Thai nationals really outraged?

How many have even heard of a pipe fish let alone known not to touch it.

 

Ridiculous.

 

There more outraged by the idiots running this country. 

1 minute ago, transam said:

But folk learn from the media, I watch YouTube near every night on different subjects....

i understand ...  i don't like social media and it 's simply because of this reason ....  but i can see where your coming from..  

11 hours ago, MrJ2U said:

How many have even heard of a pipe fish let alone known not to touch it.

 

Ridiculous.

 

There more outraged by the idiots running this country. 

it this ridiculous media .....  outraged .. what garbage   !!  Many Thai's don't know a dolphin from a crocodile so how would they know a pipefish ?  

Good job he  did not have a smoke on the beach after , he would have been looking at life ....???? ,

the pipefish is claiming sexual assault ....

 

regards worgeordie

Instead of making threats about this incident, the powers to be, should have turned it around and used as a PR for the beauty in Thailand and an educational moment.  Threats of fines and/or arrests doesn't attract tourists, it sends a message that Thailand isn't a friendly place.  The allowing any government official to speak out to the media or public is not a good policy and should be stopped.  All information should come from a central source; not from any Tom, Dick, or Harry that chooses to express their thoughts or feelings on the subject.

Nonsense news , please move on .

9 hours ago, josephbloggs said:

....for touching a fish????

What happens if a fish touches you?  (serious question, some fish are naturally curious) ????

Looks like a seaweed fish to me I'm outraged Thais are outraged with this nonsense  ????

11 hours ago, josephbloggs said:

....for touching a fish????

yeah, the world is hard to understand sometimes, isn't it? Ever hear the phrase protected/endangered species? Look it up and you'll find explanations why no one is allowed to approach or interact with them. Might be over your head, though. Like climate change. 

12 hours ago, simon43 said:

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with many Thai nationals outraged.

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Oh please, were many Thai nationals really outraged? This seems to be a stock phrase often used in news reports about events in Thailand.  I assume that it's The Pattaya News that is the guilty party.  Quite frankly, I expect most Thai nationals couldn't give a fig.....

Nobody even knows about it in my province 

Judging by the picture, the fish was a willing participant, and rather inquisitive. Illegal it may be, but certainly not malicious. 

Besides the supposed 'outrage,'  there might just might be some more fishiness to this story.  Since working in marine restoration projects includes cooperating with both the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources and the parent Ministry, they have established collections stations where certain species are collected from local fisherman and then allowed to be sold and this certainly includes species of pipefish aka seahorses.  "Allowed to be sold" is actually not a legal term in this case but it is happening all over the country.  So anyone that wants to touch a pipefish can get one for 50 to 300 baht...

 

59 minutes ago, Jonathan Swift said:

yeah, the world is hard to understand sometimes, isn't it? Ever hear the phrase protected/endangered species? Look it up and you'll find explanations why no one is allowed to approach or interact with them. 

Yes, I am aware of endangered species and agree they should be protected. I also think he should have known better considering he lives on the island. But I was replying to the poster who said he should be thrown in jail for 30 days. Do you advocate him being locked up in a Thai prison for a month for what he did? If so please explain why. 

 

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Might be over your head, though. Like climate change. 

 

What the heck on you on about??