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Pattaya: "Sea Walker" firms busted after environment minister goes ape at seabed destruction pics


rooster59

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Images: Manager

Thailand's national resources and environment minister demanded action after damning pictures of tourists trampling on coral and handling sea urchins and clams hit social media. 

The visitors were taking part in an activity called "Sea Walker" in which tourists wear headgear and walk on the sea floor.

But they are not meant to damage anything or pick things up and move them.

Varawut Silpa-Archa told the department of marine and coastal resources to investigate.

One of the last times he acted on such a matter a Hungarian - who was soon deported - and an Italian in Koh Phangan were arrested. 

This time the tourists appear to be Thai and the company certainly is.

Yesterday Phusong Saritdeechaikul's team found a two story boat called T. Popeye operating with twenty plus tourists off Ta Yai beach, Koh Larn. 

The manager and staff were taken away to the Pattaya police station. 

The business was not licenced that could mean a year in jail and 100,000 fine.

But the environment damage laws they face are much more serious - up to 10 years in jail and 1 million baht fine or both. 

The poster of the social media pictures also faces jail and a heavy fine. 

Phusong said that sea walker businesses had been operating for a long time and the areas they are allowed to operate in and the permissions to run businesses were still under consideration. 

They should be operating in areas where there is no chance to damage the environment.

Manager reported that their sources suggested that 23 such businesses were operating in the Pattaya area.

Thaivisa has featured the businesses before noting that they had a largely Chinese clientele pre-pandemic. 

Now with the minister on the case they could all find themselves not in sea water...but deep, hot water.

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-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2021-03-20
 

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"They should be operating in areas where there is no chance to damage the environment"

Curious to hear suggestions the whereabouts of those places.

Probably walk under the sea to see something.

On a different note, how is zipline between trees in the forest helping the environment?

or the single use mask in " green zones" for that matter?

But if must, then confiscate all equipment, instead of times that more resemble a joke, then a serious deterrent.

 

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22 hours ago, rooster59 said:

sea walker businesses had been operating for a long time and the areas they are allowed to operate in and the permissions to run businesses were still under consideration. 

But they are still allowed to operate after paying the required fee.

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last pic says it all..the classic asian duck face in the ever ongoing contest of "likes" and admiration from strangers online in a caste system of status

at the expense of the environment...not to mention the operators seemingly allowing it in their own self interests and greed.........man the worlds biggest enemy

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22 hours ago, rooster59 said:

The business was not licenced that could mean a year in jail and 100,000 fine.

But the environment damage laws they face are much more serious - up to 10 years in jail and 1 million baht fine or both. 

However, as there were no Farangs involved a Wai and please leave a small donation in the box as you leave the office will suffice.

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18 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

Hats off to the man that turned a disused toilet bowl into a swimming helmet

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Who says it is disused............probably fitted back on the toilet in the evenings..................

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33 minutes ago, thequietman said:

Environment minister - "wait, so you are telling me that there were no farrang tourists doing this?!"

How we gonna earn from this!

dam.gif

Someone forgot to blur out the typical duck faced asian girl......ps girls..enough already with that stupid look!..just stop

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18 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

Hats off to the man that turned a disused toilet bowl into a swimming helmet

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They prefer you call them by their rightful name..covid containment couriers :).......but Im sure they are thoroughly cleaned after each use..its Thailand after all!

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