Abstract
Problem statement: Pressure from the uncontrolled human activities had caused damages to our environment. The sea, as one of the environment components has also suffered from these activities. Fishermen, whom depend on the sea for their income and sources of protein, can be one of the groups who are suffering the most. This study intends to discover the perception of this group on the current situation of the sea, their perception on the quantity and the quality of the sea fauna, their perception on the possible factors that contribute to these changes and impacts of these changes on their socio-economic activities. Approach: This was a qualitative study whereby four in-depth interviews were conducted with the fishermen of the east coast zone of Peninsular Malaysia whom their main fishing area was on South China Sea. The data then were transcribed verbatim and analyzed. Results: Data gained had proven that the fishermen agreed that the current situation on the South China Sea was not anymore similar to their early day as a fisherman. The weather nowadays was ifficult to be predicted as there are changes in the trend of sea current, waves and temperature. They also agreed that the quality and quantity of the flora and fauna in their catching areas were lesser compared to the past. There are number of possibilities that can contribute to these changes which were illegal bottom trawling, foreign fishermen intrusion, climate change and fishing pressure. All of these according to them were affecting their socio-economic activities. Conclusion/Recommendation: Based on the data gained, it is recommended that more monitoring programs can be conducted to reduced illegal bottom trawling activities; Program such as Rakan Cop which is introduced by Royal Police of Malaysia can be practiced among the concern agencies and fishermen. A number of programs to increase awareness among the fishermen on the danger of illegal bottom trawling activities, threats of the climate change and the importance for them to save usage of energy (eg: Fuel) can also be conducted. Some effective actions taken by other countries to overcome their fishing pressure might also have the potential to be practiced in Malaysia.
Highlights
There is a number of issues that are frequently related to agriculture such as gender (Shaffril et al, 2010), youth involvement (D’Silva et al, 2010 and Uli et al, 2010) and sustainable agriculture (D’Silva et al, 2011)
1: Discuss the perception of the east coast zone fishermen in Peninsular Malaysia on the current situation of the environment in the South China Sea: From the data analyzed, it can be seen that all of the respondents studied have agreed that the situation of the South China Sea nowadays have changed a lot compared to the early days they started to become a fisherman
The fisherman has complaint on the difficulties to predict the weather nowadays compared to the early days as the fisherman changes that has occurred in term of the south china sea fauna quality and quantity: When they were asked about the quality and the quantity of the sea flora and fauna, it seems that this is one of the questions that they like to talk about
Summary
There is a number of issues that are frequently related to agriculture such as gender (Shaffril et al, 2010), youth involvement (D’Silva et al, 2010 and Uli et al, 2010) and sustainable agriculture (D’Silva et al, 2011). Based on the statistic provided by DOF, the number of registered fishermen in the east coast zone of Peninsular Malaysia is keep increasing year by year, but not on the productivity. To discuss the perception of the east coast zone fishermen in Peninsular Malaysia on any changes that has occurred in term of the quality and quantity of South China Sea fauna. To identify the perception of the east coast zone fishermen in Peninsular Malaysia on the possible factors that contributes to these changes
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