Video shows Chinese tourists taking protected parrotfish at Phuket beach
Video shows Chinese tourists taking protected parrotfish at Phuket beach — confirmed details at this stage for Phuket readers.
A video published on May 10 by the Phuket Times page shows a group of Chinese tourists diving at Kata Beach in Phuket before bringing a protected parrotfish onto the sand and displaying it. The footage also shows a Chinese woman holding a starfish for a selfie, while a Russian tourist who walked past joined a photo with the captured fish.
The post described the incident as night diving at Kata Beach in Karon, Mueang Phuket, where the group used a speargun to catch the parrotfish. People who witnessed the scene expressed anger, and the clip quickly drew demands online for authorities to investigate and take legal action.
Online backlash and ecological concern
Commenters said the footage was clear enough to support punishment and argued the conduct harmed marine resources and Thailand’s ecosystem. Some posts said parrotfish should never be taken from the water for photographs because the species is protected.
Parrotfish play a key role on coral reefs by eating algae and helping keep coral clean, making them important to reef balance. Starfish and other marine animals also should not be removed from the water for photos because the stress can cause them to die.
Source: https://www.dailynews.co.th/news/5848994/
