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.

Traditional Knowledge of Marine Resources and Its Impact on the Well-Being of Coastal Communities in Peninsular Malaysia

“…Additionally, coastal communities have worked extremely hard to survive. Majority of the people who live in coastal areas are dependent on marine resources for both their means of subsistence and their daily food supply because these resources are readily accessible in coastal areas [2]. This requires them to be highly energetic and in good health to explore and exploit the marine natural resources.…”

“…Traditional knowledge (TK) encompasses the information, skills, practices, and cultural identity that have been developed and transmitted intergenerationally within a community [1]. TK is widely practiced by earlier generations and contemporary communities, as their daily lives depend heavily on traditional practices for survival and income generation [2]. Furthermore, TK practices have considerable importance as they utilize traditional medicine derived from natural resources to enhance health [3].…”

“…Unique cultural values and social practices are embedded in TK, which contributes to the well-being of communities through the long-standing use of marine resources. TK may also be characterized as the innovation and practice of coastal and local communities worldwide, relevant for the sustainable conservation and utilization of marine resources [2,3]. Under the Convention on Biological Diversity 1992, the use of such resources is acknowledged, subject to relevant national legislation and with the full and effective participation of coastal and local populations [4].…”

A New Evolution Model for Collaborative Management of Knowledge Resources

“…Scholars in relevant research fields began to attach importance to the collaborative management of knowledge resources in recent decades and they have carried out a series of studies, most of which focuses on aspects of the classification, integration and sharing of knowledge resources, and a few of them on the role of knowledge attribute regulation [12][13][14][15]. In fact, knowledge attribute regulation plays a key role in the collaborative management of knowledge resources, as it helps organizations and individuals better acquire, integrate, and utilize knowledge resources, thereby improving the ability to innovate and apply knowledge [16][17][18].…”