French tourists arrested for catching protected parrotfish

Six aged French tourists were arrested on Thursday afternoon with eight protected parrotfish off the popular Promthep Cape in Phuket.

Police from the Chalong Police Station arrested the six after their chartered long-tail boat returned to the Rawai beach.

They were identified as Daniel Albert, 71, Patrice Jacques Comte, 63, Jean Jacques Pierre, 61, Didier Tapin, 61, Le Cort Andre, 65, and Wemer Claudette, 66.

Police seized the fish and five DIY harpoon guns from the group.

Police were alerted that the tourists were seen harpooning fish at Koh Kaew Yai, off Promthep Cape, so they waited for them at the beach.

They were taken to the Chalong Police Station for legal action. Catching green humphead parrotfish, which are less than 50cm long, is unlawful and carries a fine of Bt100,000 or one year in jail or both.

The Nation 

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