Traditional Knowledge of Marine Resources and Their Relations to the Coastal Community’s Economic Well-Being in Peninsular Malaysia

Abstract

This study was conducted to analyse the practice of associated use of traditional knowledge (TK) on marine resources as new sources of wealth to enhance the economic well-being of the coastal communities. This study employed a qualitative research approach with a total of 117 respondents in Peninsular Malaysia. Convenience and purposive sampling methods were used to identify potential respondents and thematic analysis for the data analysis. The data was gathered through telephone interviews during the Movement Control Order (MCO) in Malaysia due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of the study reveal that the associated use of traditional knowledge on marine resources does play an essential role in the economic well-being of coastal communities. This was assessed through the perspective of living standards and livelihood improvement. The potential of TK based on marine resources illustrates the opportunity for this practice to become a valuable economic resource and create employment opportunities among coastal communities to generate a sustainable source of income. This study can also change modern society's perception of the importance and benefits of TK based on marine resources. The implications of this study can be viewed from the theory, practice, and policy. Future studies could be expanded to the Borneo region of Malaysia to gather different perspectives, and a quantitative approach could be used to gather more extensive opinions.