BANGKOK: Siranudh 'Psi' Scott, a marine conservationist and former advisor to the Director-General of Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, has become a prominent figure on social media following his public resignation and release of videos exposing environmental misconduct and systemic corruption in Thailand’s marine parks.
Psi, 26, made headlines after posting footage of tour operators violating park rules during official closures for reef rehabilitation, including dropping anchors on coral reefs and allowing tourists to walk on protected marine ecosystems. These actions, he claims, were ignored by authorities and sometimes even facilitated by complicit officials who benefited from under-the-table arrangements.
“I chose to leave a job I love for the sea I love more,” Psi said in a social media post after resigning. He added that he had never accepted a salary during his tenure and made the decision to step down after local operators in Krabi launched a campaign to have him removed. Their actions followed his repeated attempts to report misconduct up the chain of command - efforts that were met with silence.
Psi expressed his frustration with the situation in the southern islands, particularly the collusion between business owners and some park officials. “I gave warnings, but they had no effect. Some officials were even complicit, secretly taking bribes. I reported everything to higher authorities, but they turned a blind eye. After pushing for what's right, locals began collecting signatures to have me removed. I was forced to resign, but I did it to protect the sea. And throughout it all, I never once took a salary,” he said.
Department Director-General Attapol Charoenchansa later responded, stating that Psi’s resignation was voluntary and not a dismissal. However, he acknowledged having received complaints from local business operators about Psi’s outspoken social media activity, including the creation of content deemed “too much” for public platforms.
Following this, he ordered marine park chiefs to review all future content from officials before it's posted, especially if it relates to sensitive conservation or tourism issues.
Attapol emphasised he respected Psi’s intentions but noted the need to adjust working practices and communication styles within the department. “I haven't fired him,” he said, “but I did caution him to be more careful.”
Shortly before his resignation, Psi posted a now-viral video documenting a confrontation with a foreign tourist who directed a racial slur at him on a boat.
The tourist’s vessel had broken down and during the encounter, the man reportedly said “ni hao” in a mocking tone, which Psi identified as a racist gesture.
Psi ordered the boat to return to shore and explained to the passenger why such behaviour -especially in a host country - is unacceptable.
He posted the video on Instagram to raise awareness and support for Thai officials facing discrimination, stating: “Just because someone visits our country doesn’t give them the right to disrespect us.” His post drew support from both Thai and international communities, including public figures like DJ Matoom, who recounted similar racist experiences abroad and praised Psi for standing up against such behaviour.
Psi is the great-grandson of the founder of Singha Corporation and the son of Jiranuch Bhirombhakdi and her former Scottish husband. He graduated with a degree in Animation from the California Institute of the Arts in the US and was appointed as an advisor to the department on January 2, 2024.
Psi has been passionate about marine conservation since age 20. He founded the “Sea You Strong” project using personal funds to engage local communities in beach clean-ups across Southern Thailand. In 2022, he gained recognition as the “Thai Aquaman” after swimming nearly 30 kilometres solo between Ao Nang Beach and Poda Island to raise awareness for ocean preservation.
He also created a short film titled Merman, where he portrayed a merman to highlight the beauty of Thailand’s marine ecosystems and the threats they face from pollution.
Throughout his time as an advisor, Psi used both on-the-ground efforts and social media advocacy to draw attention to pressing marine issues. He also addressed broader concerns about the poor pay and lack of life insurance for park officers and temporary workers, who risk their lives in the line of duty.
In a heartfelt message, Psi wrote: “Beyond the position I held is the love I have for the ocean. I chose to sacrifice my job to speak the truth about the marine crisis in the South. I thank everyone for the experiences and continue to support all park officials. I’ll keep moving forward.” - The Nation/ANN
