Special message from TBTI Malaysia coordinators Hemavathi Gunasegaran and Gazi Md Nurul Islam for 2024 World Fisheries Day
We’re excited to announce that TBTI Global and Universiti Tun Abdul Razak will be publishing an e-book on small-scale fisheries in Malaysia as part of the TBTI Global Publication Series. This e-book aims to gather valuable information about small-scale fisheries communities in Malaysia. Specifically, it will provide better knowledge and understanding of the social and ecological context of Malaysian small-scale fisheries to a diverse, national and international audience. The e-book will be the first volume to capture the scattered yet unexplored stories of traditional fishers living in islands and coastal areas in Malaysia. It will also contribute valuable knowledge in small-scale fisheries to benefit local communities, policy makers and other stakeholders and be a valuable resource for the policy makers in helping them formulate better decision for sustainable small-scale fisheries in Malaysia.
A two-days writing workshop (20 – 21 July, 2024) was organized in UNIRAZAK, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia that brought together professionals from the academia, government and NGOs who are contributing chapters to the book. The participants shared experience and knowledge in socio cultural, economic and ecological contexts of small-scale fishers, Indigenous and tribal fisher community in the east coast and west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak). The themes of the case study chapters describe a wide range of social economic, social justice, blue economy, ecosystem health, environmental vulnerability, livelihood strategies, gender role in fisheries, and complexity of fisheries governance, among others.
The workshop was more than just an academic exercise; it was a journey that took us through the challenges and triumphs of those living at the edge of the sea. It broadened my understanding of sustainability and reminded me that the solutions we seek often lie in the stories of those who live closest to the problems . The connections I made between my previous studies and the new insights from this workshop have inspired me to think more broadly and deeply about the impact of my work. In the end, this workshop was not just about learning new facts; it was about seeing the world through a different lens – one that values the voices of those who are often unheard, and that seeks to create a future where both people and the planet can flourish together. I’m leaving this experience with a renewed sense of purpose, ready to dive deeper into the challenges that lie ahead, armed with new knowledge and a fresh perspective on the small-scale fisheries.
If you have been following our news, you would have noticed that an official launch of a TBTI country hub is accompanied by a cake. We didn’t have that in Kuala Lumpur when the writing team came together to work on the SSF Malaysia E-book in July.
Gazi Md Nurul Islam, Universiti Tun Abdul Razak
Hemavathi Gunasegaran, Universiti Malaya Centre for Continuing Education
