Abstract
The marine fisheries sector contributed 1.4% to Malaysia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2016, of which 76% is contributed by coastal fisheries sector. Twenty-four percent of this coastal sector output is contributed by the State of Perak, where Pangkor Island is located, making Perak the major contributor to the fisheries sector of Malaysia. This article aimed to identify the gap between development policies implemented and sustainable outcomes achievement, and subsequently provide suggestions for future adjustments to the sector development policies. The gaps identified include the difference between (1) improvement in the quality of human capital through workshops to improve income level and the actual output enjoyed by fishermen due to the financial limitation; (2) desired outcome of aquaculture project and the actual benefits seen due to limited physical, human and financial capital; (3) improvement of physical capital such as housing area and the financial capital available to service mortgage and replace equipments; and (4) livelihood strategies adopted and the fishermen desired livelihood outcome. A few recommendations were presented to reduce the above mentioned gaps, which include (1) strengthen the current structures and processes to ensure desired outcome of each policies and projects are achieved; (2) encourage the involvement of other operators on the island in moving towards improving the livelihood of fishermen; and (3) a long term plan of changing the culture of “hand to mouth” through education. Keywords: sustainable development, Pangkor Island, coastal fisheries, livelihood strategies
Highlights
The fisheries sector in Malaysia plays a significant role in the country’s development as it contributes to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country, it is an important source of protein, contributes to Malaysian exports to countries such as Japan, Taiwan and Singapore, provide job opportunities to groups such as fishermen, seafood processing workers, fisheries related administrators, fish mongers, as well as having domino effects on the other industry, such as sardine processing factories, boat manufacturers and fishing equipment manufacturers.Marine waters can be categorized into four fishing zones, namely Zone A (0-5 nautical miles from shore), Zone B (5-12 nautical miles), Zone C (12-30 nautical miles), Zone C2 (30- Exclusive Economic Zone) and Zone C3 (Johari, 1996), refer to Figure 1 for clearer illustration
Fishery is an important sector to Malaysia as it is an important source of food and it provides job opportunities to the fishermen community but other relevant sectors as well
This paper focuses on the study of the livelihood of coastal fishermen, as coastal fishery output plays a significant role to the fishery sector
Summary
The fisheries sector in Malaysia plays a significant role in the country’s development as it contributes to the GDP of the country, it is an important source of protein (based on the Malaysian food culture), contributes to Malaysian exports to countries such as Japan, Taiwan and Singapore, provide job opportunities to groups such as fishermen, seafood processing workers, fisheries related administrators, fish mongers, as well as having domino effects on the other industry, such as sardine processing factories, boat manufacturers and fishing equipment manufacturers.Marine waters can be categorized into four fishing zones, namely Zone A (0-5 nautical miles from shore), Zone B (5-12 nautical miles), Zone C (12-30 nautical miles), Zone C2 (30- Exclusive Economic Zone) and Zone C3 (high sea) (Johari, 1996), refer to Figure 1 for clearer illustration. Zone A is reserved solely for small scale fishermen, Zone B for owner-operated commercial fishing vessels of less than 40 Gross Register Tonnage (GRT), Zone C for commercial fishing vessels of more than 40GRT and Zone C2 as well as C3 for deep-sea fishing vessels of 70GRT and above (Food and Agriculture Organization, 2001). Stella Ho Siew Neo, Jamilah Mohamad & Nurulhuda Binti Mohd Satar There are a few agencies and organizations working together to support the development of the fisheries sector in Malaysia. These organizations include Department of Fisheries Malaysia (DOF), Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia (LKIM) and Fishermen Associations (FA).
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