Authorities are searching for a foreign man after he posted a TikTok video of himself illegally catching parrotfish off Koh Phi Phi Leh in Krabi.

The video showed the man with three endangered parrotfish and two other fish, and also stabbing a sea eel, said Sophon Thongee, director-general of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources.

The stunt was shown on the TikTok account “@roslanofficial”, which features a number of adventure-themed activities. The video was shared on other social media sites, drawing comments from upset local residents.

“I have ordered local officials to find the boatman and the foreign tourist quickly for punishment because this is a very serious issue,” Mr Sophon said on Thursday.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa was informed of the incident, he added.

“He is very angry and ordered (officials) to bring the tourist to punishment,” Mr Sophon said.

The incident was not the first of its kind, he said. Some Italian tourists who took selfies while holding coral and sea animals were punished by having their stay terminated.