Hunt on for foreigner found fishing illegally

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THE NATION THAILAND – The Department of National Parks Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) is currently on the lookout for a foreign man who was caught on video catching parrotfish in Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park in Krabi province.

A TikTok video clip of the foreigner showed him catching three parrotfishes, one moray eel and two other unidentified fish in the sea off Thailand, leaving Thai netizens outraged on Thursday.

Most netizens slammed the foreigner, saying that his actions were against the law and destroyed the marine ecosystem. They also called on government agencies to take legal action against the foreigner and the boatman.

DNP Director-General Ratchada Suriyakul na Ayutthaya said department officials found that the incident had taken place at Phi Phi Leh Island in Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park.

He said Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park and Marine and Coastal Resources Office have collected evidence and compared it with the video clip on the TikTok account ‘@roslanofficial’, which features a number of adventure-themed activities.

“The officials are currently searching for the suspect to take legal action against him,” he said.

He added that the foreigner would face charges of harming or taking animals away from the national park area, and/or causing damage to the ecosystem, under the the National Park Act BE 2562 (2019).

Composite photo shows a screen capture from the TikTok video and Thai officials gesturing at the suspected scene of the incident. PHOTO: THE NATION THAILAND