webfact Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 Uproar over Phuket underwater animal abuseScreen grab from the offending video.PHUKET: -- Sea-walking, which has not hit the headlines for a couple of years, this week resurfaced, causing an uproar in social media for all the wrong reasons.In sea-walking, participants get to walk around on the seabed wearing helmets to which air is pumped from the surface.Sea-walking companies in the past were accused of adding to coral destruction by conducting the activity on top of coral reefs and even, in one case, digging up coral so that guests would have a nice flat surface to walk along underwater.This time the furore came after a video appeared in the Facebook group of Bangkok-based Giftbox Travel showing several tourists handling starfish, sea cucumbers and clams and even playing a game of catch with a type of sea star.Paksakorn “Chai” Aspawiriya, Managing Director of Bangkok-based Giftbox Travel, told The Phuket News, “We are a travel agency arranging tour packages conducted by local companies [in Phuket and elsewhere].”He explained that Giftbox carries out frequent random checks on the tour companies it uses. On one of these trips, to a Phuket sea-walking company – which he declined to name – his staff took the video.The games with the animals, in the water next to Koh Hae, also known as Coral Island, began when a tour guide for the unnamed company picked up a starfish and handed it to one of the clients.“We thought the behavior shown in the video was not good for marine animals. So we posted it on our Facebook page to show that we do not support this kind of behavior, which might hurt the animals.”The video was uploaded on Friday (April 24) and over the weekend attracted more than 80,000 views and hundreds of negative comments.“It’s not nice. We don’t support this kind of trip,” said Mr Chai.“I’ve heard that the company no longer allows this sort of thing and has fired the guide involved. I hope this kind of issue will be sorted out.”He added that the video posted was raw footage, which has now been taken down. However, the company plans to edit it, adding more information, and repost it as cautionary advice to tourists.“When we went there we did not know they were going to do this. The tour company gave us brief instructions about keeping the helmet on and hanging onto the hand rail below water. The trip, they said, was just an underwater walk.”The Director of Marine and Coastal Resources Conservation Centre (MCRCC), Thanet Mannoi told The Phuket News, “I talked with three [sea-walking] companies, and one of them admitted that the video was taken a while ago and that a staff member had been fired. But I think that misses the point.“We will have a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall in May. We have to find where they were doing this.“I have two questions I want to discuss with provincial officials. First, is sea-walking actually legal? Second, if it is legal, is it allowed in marine conservation areas?” Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/uproar-over-phuket-underwater-animal-abuse-52048.php -- Phuket News 2015-04-28 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keestha Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 Sigh.....at least the elephant sea walking did not reappear. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Local Drunk Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 "80,000 views and hundreds of negative comments" Not enough negative comments in my opinion. I understand that tourism to these destinations is a significant part of the Thai economy... But the ecology in these areas (which is unique in the world) has to be respected well before any profit margin gained from tourism. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Argus Tuft Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 Surely from the pic in the article this is not someone wearing a "helmet to which air is supplied from the surface"? Looks more like SSBA (hookah) delivery. Either way the handling of sea life isn't acceptable if it occurs in the way described in the article Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post NamKangMan Posted April 28, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted April 28, 2015 This is the underwater version of the slow loris and lizard tourist photos, and they have been going on for years. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
csabo Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 I went with a dive master for a dive in the Caymans once. Prior to the dive he strongly reminded me that touching any sea life in the marine park (basically all the waters surrounding Grand Cayman) was forbidden by law and violators subject to fines. I thought no problem, I can support that. Ten minutes into the dive the same guy is pulling on my fin and I turn to see him holding a huge lobster and making a motion as if he intends to snap the tail off. You meet some real A-holes in the course of a lifetime but he's in my top 10. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harleyclarkey Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 As if the newly invented "Green - Mr Chai" gives a single toss about any marine life. It's the money....and absolutely nothing else that he worries about. On another note....is this not over dramatised? So...a couple of sea creatures (hardly endangered) got handled and passed around. Any real, damaging harm done to these creatures? Do they even know they have been handled? Sea walking near, or especially on, coral is a total disaster and needs to be banned immediately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackanapes Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 there are so many issues that need to be addressed this is one of them bad companies create problems they need to be told about the sea environment as well as the land, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vogele123 Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 Is this really news? I mean who really cares? Sea Walking? Haven't you heard of Dolphin Wan@ing? This is nothing compared to the terrible "abuse" of Freddie the Dolphin" Poor old Freddie was tossed off by some freaky guy up off of the N.E coast of UK a few years back, poor old Freddie never had a chance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RigPig Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 "80,000 views and hundreds of negative comments" Not enough negative comments in my opinion. I understand that tourism to these destinations is a significant part of the Thai economy... But the ecology in these areas (which is unique in the world) has to be respected well before any profit margin gained from tourism. But the ecology in these areas (which is unique in the world) has to be respected well before any profit margin gained from tourism. You either don´t live here or havn´t been here long? OLD THAI SAYING : ¨If it moves eat it, if it doesn´t move then eat it later¨ They don´t respect their own people what hope does the ecology have? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anon4546543 Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 I wonder about the mentality of tourists who abuse the wildlife. I wonder about tourist promoters that do not understand sustain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samuibruno Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 im wondering if the company involved had TOT liscense ?? but i doubt it tourism authority supposed to check whom they issue licences to Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ggt Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 There are so many problems in Thailand...the mistreatment of immigrants in the fishing and agricultural industries...police corruption...road carnage...mistreatment of young Thai women...corruption in the business and tourist industries...and so on... Although marine tourism may have some problems...they are minor in comparison to the major problems facing Thailand everyday...which have yet to be resolved...and have no end in sight... Let's focus on the problems which are overwhelmingly negative for Thai society and tourism first... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunshine51 Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 The diver in that pic is really a dumbass. Why...well he's holding a banded seasnake. Seasnakes have venom that is more toxic than a cobra's venom. Unlike venomous land snakes who may not envenomate during a bite, seasnakes envenomate every bite. The pic doesn't portray ocean tourism in a good and safe manner IMO. Then again...TiT & it's their problem...not mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post catweazle Posted April 28, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted April 28, 2015 (edited) The diver in that pic is really a dumbass. Why...well he's holding a banded seasnake. Seasnakes have venom that is more toxic than a cobra's venom. Unlike venomous land snakes who may not envenomate during a bite, seasnakes envenomate every bite. The pic doesn't portray ocean tourism in a good and safe manner IMO. Then again...TiT & it's their problem...not mine. It's not a banded sea snake on the OP photo - it's a sea cucumber with a snake alike appearance which is totally harmless. A banded sea snake looks like the attached photo. However - Sea Walking the world don't need! If anyone wants to enjoy the underwater world, he/she should make the effort of learning how to properly skin or scuba dive, because then he/she will also learn everything that's needed to understand how to behave responsible under water and how to protect the marine environment. Edited April 28, 2015 by catweazle 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunshine51 Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 ^^^ CW...thanks for that info. Sure looked like a banded seasnake to me when I enlarged the crappy photo. I agree with what you said in the reply concerning conservation....and learning to dive. Cheers... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brer Fox Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 In Thailand there are more human snakes above the water than there are sea snakes below. No need for me to tell you that. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenslegs Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 Is this really news? I mean who really cares? Sea Walking? Haven't you heard of Dolphin Wan@ing? This is nothing compared to the terrible "abuse" of Freddie the Dolphin" Poor old Freddie was tossed off by some freaky guy up off of the N.E coast of UK a few years back, poor old Freddie never had a chance! Freddie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abitmiffed Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 The guide has been moved to an inactive post in the office with full pay....same <deleted> different day....Nexxxxxt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alwyn Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 It's all okay, stop worrying guys. There are no parasols on the beaches of Phuket so all is good with the eco system..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
26vinny Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 Hypocrites forced slavery human beings torture by RTP no real justice system and they make a noise about this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookee68 Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 come on, Thailand will give you a negative if you have a spot on your face, they are to ultra dramatic, not to mention now they will be waiting in a boat to sell you roses now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycallahan Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 It's a good thing the Jackass film makers didn't join their tour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacko45k Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 Would you expect anything different? This is a place where monks rear tigers for their body parts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rogergreybeard Posted April 29, 2015 Share Posted April 29, 2015 Too late, do you think these companies really give a shit! No Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SEEDGER Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 Thanks Catwezal, I thought the idiot was playing with a Sea snake! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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