Krabi: – Police and harbour officials have imposed 10,000 baht fine on a tourist boat anchored off Phi Phi Island for installing undersea aquarium without licensing.

Police said the further legal proceedings would hinge on the ruling of marine park authorities.

Critics said the undersea aquarium endangers the abundant corals and marine life in the Hat NopparatThara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park.

Phi Phi Cruiser chairmanNikomOcha said he had valid boat registration and proper licensing for tourism business.

Nikom said his company is based in Phuket specialising in providing excursion services for tourists between Phuket and Phi Phi.

He said he commissioned the construction of the boat in question and named it “Undersea World”.

He had sought and received valid permission to operate the flat-bottomed boat for tourism.

He modified the boat to be able to lower the enclosed, glass-windowed platform from the ship bottom into about 2-meter under water.

The platform was designed to allow sea water to flow through, hence allow the coral fish to swim in and out of the enclosure.

By using air pressure, the water level in the platform would be lowered, creating the impression of a shallow swimming pool where the tourists could swim, snorkelling and feed and play with the fish.

Critics claimed about marine park offence for using food to lure coral fish. Boat operator rebutted about feeding the fish. He admitted, however that he was previously unaware of the offence and that he would advise tourist from feeding.

He also insisted he fully complied with the law related to marine transportation and tourism.

"He also insisted he fully complied with the law related to marine transportation and tourism."

But he obviously failed to provide sufficient tea money to police and harbour officials to look the other way as to this minor offense (allowing tourists to feed the coral fish).

Mean while in the real world! Rape, drugs, robbery!

More controversy caused by Phuket tour company

Eakkapop Thongtub

A tourist is seen in the bottom of the boat which is moored at Ao Tonsai.

PHUKET: -- Yesterday afternoon, Marine police̕s Lt Col Anurak Parinyasatitrakul, together with a team from Krabi Marine and Phi Phi police located a tour boat they had been searching for which catches fish inside a glass tank in the hull of the boat for tourists to swim with.

The boat was found moored at Ao Tonsai in the Noparatthara National Park.

Police carried out a search of the vessel and questioned Boonsong Saikloy who takes care of the boat, the boat captain and crew members.

Phi Phi Royal Park and Marine officers had been hunting for the owners of the Phuket based tour company which owns the boat after pictures posted on Facebook of tourists swimming amongst the fish went viral on social media.

Marine conservationists and the general public became upset after seeing the pictures on Thon Thamrongnawasawat̕s Facebook page.

It is alledged that the tour boat lures fish into the hull of the boat with food and then closes the tank. Tourists are then allowed to swim with the fish.

The fish are released once the trip is over.

The person who posted the pictures was afraid that this act would damaged the marine biology of the area where the pictures were taken .

Noparatthara Park chief, Chaiyathatch Boonphupantonti said yesterday, “This act is considered to be against the Marine Park Acts (law) and has broken the Endangered Species Protection Act.”

After questioning the boat̕s staff they found that The Ocean Underworld is the name of the tour boat and it does have all the registered paperwork. All the crew also had all the correct paperwork.

The boat belongs to Nicom Ocha who own the Phi Phi Cruisers Company in Phuket.

The boat is always anchored at Ao Tonsai and the tour company arranges for small boats to bring tourists to see and swim with the fish.

Officials checked the bottom of the boat via a small walkway inside the boat and thirteen tourists were viewing the fish when officers arrived.

The marine authorities have advised the owner of the boat that they are not using the boat in accordance with the registration papers and will have to pay a B10,000 fine.

Park officials will also be investigating to see if there is a case for encroachment due to the fact the boat is always moored in the National Park.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/more-controversy-caused-by-phuket-tour-campany-51135.php


-- Phuket News 2015-02-24