Phuket, Thailand
A group of Chinese tourists has sparked outrage after allegedly night diving and spearfishing parrotfish, a protected species, at Kata Beach in Phuket, according to local media reports.
The incident, pointed out by Facebook pages, occurred last night, May 9th. The tourists reportedly used spears to catch the fish during a night dive. A Russian tourist who was passing by asked to hold one of the speared parrotfish for a selfie photo, further fueling online criticism and increasing calls on Thai social media for ending the current so-called free visa.
Parrotfish (known in Thai as pla nok kaew) are vital to coral reef ecosystems. They help control algae growth and contribute to sand production by grinding coral, playing a key role in maintaining healthy reefs. Under Thai law, harming or harvesting protected marine species in areas like Phuket’s coastal waters can result in fines and potential jail time.
The post has drawn strong reactions from Thai netizens, many of whom called for authorities to investigate and take action to protect the marine environment. Phuket, a major tourist destination, has seen repeated incidents involving visitors and protected marine life, including previous cases of spearfishing and coral damage by tourists.
Local authorities have not yet issued an official statement on this specific incident, but similar past cases have led to arrests, fines, and charges under environmental protection laws. Officials often urge tourists to respect marine conservation rules, especially in popular diving spots around the island.
This happens while the country is under a nationwide crackdown on foreigners behaving badly and calls for changing the current free visa program increase, indeed with many on Thai social media saying this incident is further proof in their opinion that the current lax visa rules should be made stronger.
