A team from Chalong Police led by Lt Col Yokin Jankong arrested the six French nationals at 2:20pm yesterday (Jan 18). They were named as Daniel Albert, 71, Patrice Jacques Comte, 65, Jean Jacques Pierre, 61, Didier Tapin, 61, Le Cort Andre, 65 and Werner Claudette, 66.
Police seized from them eight parrotfish less than 50 centimetres in lentgh and five harpoons used to hunt and catch fish.
Lt Col Yokin said, “We were notified that foreigners had been shooting fish near Koh Kaew Yai (in front of Phromthep Cape) in Rawai and that they were heading back to Rawai Beach on a boat.
“We went to Rawai Beach and found a long tail boat with passengers on board. On the boat police found parrotfish which are protected by law,” Lt Col Yokin explained.
“The six French nationals were handed to Capt Somkiat Sarasit of the Chalong Police to face charges of removing protected marine life (parrotfish),” Lt Col Yokin added.
As per a notice of the Ministry of Natural and Environment Resources on Phuket environment protection stated to protect No 79; every kind of parrotfish (not more than 50cm long). Whoever catches or possess this kind of fish violates or fails to comply with section 45 shall be punished by a term of imprisonment not exceeding one year or a fine not exceeding B100,000, or both.