Two seafood restaurants in Phuket have been charged with the illegal possession of protected marine life, according to a Phuket News report. The unnamed floating restaurants have been found in breach of environmental laws after authorities seized a variety of protected marine life.
These cases come up from time to time as the demand continues for the serving up of exotic marine life.
Officials from the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources visited both restaurants on Saturday, after a number of video clips on social media appeared to show that they had protected marine life on the premises. During a search of both premises, officials found a variety of ornamental fish which cannot be caught legally.
It’s understood that one restaurant had 11 protected sea creatures, including butterflyfish, lionfish, orange-lined triggerfish, and moray eels. At the other, officials found 4 creatures, including moorish idols, lionfish and dog-faced puffer fish.
The Phuket News reports that the management of both establishments have been taken to Karon Police Station for legal processing.
Late last year, another 3 seafood restaurants in Karon – Chic Restaurant, Bounty Seafood, and Ton Tan Seafood – were charged with the illegal sale of baby parrotfish.
SOURCE: The Phuket News
