Farmers call on govt to delay navigation law

PHUKET: A group of farmers in this southern province is calling on the government to have the implementation of the 2017 Act on Navigation through Thai Waters deferred to next year to allow more time for hundreds of affected people to prepare to comply with the new law.

Somchai Sakulchit, chairman of the Phuket provincial council of farmers, yesterday led a group of about 30 Phuket farmers to submit a petition to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha through deputy provincial governor Siwaphon Chuasawat.

Under the new law, those who live in a pole house in the river, canal, reservoir, lake and any other types of public water resources will, from June 23, face legal action for intruding on the natural resources, unless they have completed registration with the Marine Department by June 22, he said.

There are currently 458 farmers in 236 families who will be affected by the new law, he said, adding these people earn a living by raising aquatic animals and their farmland covers a total of 829,932 square metres.

And if they are all forced, under the new law, to pay mandatory fees based on the size of their fishery farmland, the impost will come to about 414.96 million baht per year, he said.

However, in the event they are fined, they will have to pay from 414.96 million baht to 829.93 million baht a year, he said.

“The council therefore encourages the government to consider delaying the enforcement of the part concerning the farmers who have not registered with the department for at least a full year,” he said.

Many farmers in the province weren’t aware of this law before and they are now worried about its likely impact.

The council is also encouraging state agencies involved in drafting the law to consider amending it to minimise its negative impact.

The farmers’ group is being advised to conduct a final survey to find out the exact number of people who will be affected.