PHUKET, THAILAND – Authorities in Phuket approved a strict zoning plan around Ko Naka to ease tensions between jet-ski operators and local fishers and improve safety on the water.
New rules after years of conflict
The calm image of Ko Naka off Phuket had long been disrupted, as what officials described as “unregulated jet-ski activities” affected traditional fishing and local livelihoods. A provincial committee overseeing the jet-ski trade met this week at the provincial hall to address the situation, chaired by Vice Governor Adul Chuthong and attended by the head of the marine authority, other officials and local business representatives.
Detailed zoning plan for the coastline
The committee agreed on a detailed zoning plan for the coast and sea around Ko Naka, with clearly separated areas for jet-ski rental, boat moorings, swimming zones for tourists and, above all, protected fishing grounds for residents. According to the meeting report,
“The goal is to prevent simultaneous use of the same areas, reduce the risk of accidents and create a balance between tourism and the needs of coastal communities.”
said unnamed officials, in the report.
Questions over delayed action
The report noted that few legal steps had previously been taken against jet-ski operators, without explaining why authorities waited so long to intervene. It referred to possible political entanglements in the background and recalled that late last year Member of Parliament Thitikan Thitipruethikul called for a review of more than 300 jet-ski licenses. These licenses had been approved shortly before the retirement of former governor Sophon Suwannarat and a senior marine officer, and officials now appeared to seek a softer approach to resolving the conflict.
Vice governor orders tighter oversight
Vice Governor Adul Chuthong issued clear instructions at the meeting, requiring the regional marine authority to strictly monitor the issuance of licenses and the registration of operators.
“Tourism development in Phuket must go hand in hand with the protection of marine resources and must not have negative impacts on local people,”
said Adul Chuthong, vice governor. The maximum number of rentable jet-skis around Ko Naka would be reset, and every application for additional jet-skis would now be closely examined.
Balancing tourism income and tradition
Officials faced what they described as a difficult balancing act, with criteria for new licenses including the suitability of the area, safety concerns, environmental impacts and consequences for fishers. The debate touched on what was described as the soul of Phuket: whether the island should become a pure tourism hub or also leave space for local communities and nature. The planned measures were framed as a step away from a lawless “Wild West” on the water, with implementation and enforcement expected to determine their real impact.
Potential model for other Thai beaches
If the Ko Naka zoning plan worked, officials said it could become a model for other conflict-ridden beaches in Thailand where tourism and traditional uses compete. The authorities set out next steps that included consistent implementation of the plan and close coordination between marine agencies, the provincial administration and residents. For tourists and fishers on Ko Naka, officials said greater calm could soon return—provided the new rules were respected.