Authorities have begun to arrest tourists for feeding coastal fish and causing damage to natural resources after a Chinese visitor and his guide were apprehended off Koh Khai Nok island near Phuket.
Sakda Wichiansilp, deputy director-general of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, said on Thursday that the Chinese tourist was arrested on Wednesday while feeding fish off the southern island and the tour guide was charged with supporting the act.
They were charged at the police station on Koh Yao district, Phangna, and released on bail of 100,000 baht. They would be informed of a trial date later, he said.
"I would like to say that we are serious and are really making arrests. We have given enough warnings," Mr Sakda said.
"Our officials said that the arrested tourist was frustrated by it and that the guide tried to settle the issue, but I told the officials that they must make an example so that no one else will dare to take such actions."
But he advised that any legal action be carried out properly because the arrest of a foreign tourist could be sensitive to international relations.
Wacharin Thinklang, a director of marine and coastal resources in Phuket, said marine and coastal regulations prohibited the feeding of aquatic animals which were marine and coastal resources.
The offence is liable to a fine of up to 100,000 baht and/or a jail term of one year. He identified the arrested Chinese tourist as Zhou Hongzhi from Sichuan.