Officials from Marine and Coastal Resources Office 10, the Phuket Marine Police, Tourist Police, the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division, and Karon Municipality, numbering more than 20 personnel in total, inspected the southern headland area of Kata Beach in Karon Subdistrict, Mueang District, Phuket.
Preliminary findings indicate that the individuals involved were a group of Chinese tourists whose identities are currently being traced by authorities. Reports suggest that the group engaged in diving activities near a rocky reef, where they allegedly speared fish before bringing a parrotfish measuring no more than 50 centimetres onto the beach for display. Authorities described the behaviour as inappropriate and harmful to the marine ecosystem.
The act is in violation of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment’s 2024 announcement on designated environmental protection zones and measures in Phuket Province, specifically Clause 10(7). Under Section 100 of the Enhancement and Conservation of National Environmental Quality Act, 1992, the offence carries a penalty of up to one year of imprisonment, a fine of up to 100,000 baht, or both.
In response to the incident, Karon Municipality, along with relevant agencies, has implemented urgent preventive measures, including the installation of warning signs and legal notices along the beachfront to inform visitors about environmental restrictions.
Authorities have also announced that municipal officers and police units will conduct regular patrols in high-risk coastal areas to prevent further violations. Members of the public and tourists are being urged to report any sightings of individuals catching or possessing parrotfish by contacting the Forest Protection Hotline at 1362, which operates 24 hours a day.
The incident has intensified concerns over the protection of marine biodiversity in Phuket’s tourist zones, highlighting the need for stricter enforcement of environmental regulations to preserve fragile coral reef ecosystems and maintain ecological balance in the region.
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