Krabi parrotfish hunter faces deportation, says Varawut
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa on Friday formally ordered that the foreign man caught catching rare fish in Krabi’s Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park be hunted down.
A TikTok video clip of the foreigner holding up a catch of three parrotfish, one moray eel and two other unidentified fish off the coast of Thailand went viral on Thursday and sparked outrage on Thai social media.
The minister said he has tasked the Department of National Parks Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) with investigating the incident immediately as fishing in the area is illegal and his actions can have a severe impact on the country’s marine ecosystem.
“We must find this man as soon as possible to prevent him from further damaging Thailand’s natural resources. Once we catch him, he will be deported,” Varawut said.
DNP director-general Ratchada Suriyakul na Ayutthaya said initial investigation showed that the man was on a boat named “Avarin” and that the department has called on Phi Phi Island police to track down the owner and the man to face legal charges.
Ratchada said the foreigner will face the charges of harming or taking animals away from the national park area and/or causing damage to the ecosystem under the 1961 National Parks Act.
Section 16(3) of the Act stipulates that anyone who harms or takes animals away from the national park area will face up to five years in prison and/or a 20,000 baht fine.
Ratchada explained that parrotfish are vital to the ecosystem of the coral reef, and their population is already decreasing.
“If you have any information about the man, please notify the department immediately,” he added.
