Establishment of Fisheries Refugia in Malaysia:
Background and Situation Analysis to Support

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Priority Fisheries Refugia Areas

The fisheries refugia concept was defined by the RWG-F as “Spatially and geographically defined, marine or coastal areas in which specific management measures are applied to sustain important species [fisheries resources] during critical stages of their life cycle, for their sustainable use” (UNEP, 2005) and was developed as a novel approach to the identification and designation of priority areas in which to integrate fisheries and habitat management. The fisheries refugia concept focuses on the nature of the particular habitat and its critical significance to the life-history of the fished species. Management of refugia, therefore, focuses on the habitat rather than simply restricting access, either temporally or spatially, to fishing grounds. The process of identifying priority fisheries refugia in Malaysia was initiated via a RWG-F review of the above list of sites in relation to information on the distribution and abundance of fish eggs and larvae in the South China Sea; and the outcomes of country consultations on the identification of fisheries refugia.

In Malaysia, a national consultation was undertaken to identify priority locations for the establishment of fisheries refugia. This consultation involved participation by representatives from local government units, research institutes, law enforcers, fisherfolk organizations, and non-governmental organizations. The purpose of these consultations was to introduce participants to the concept of fisheries refugia and the procedures for the identification and selection of refugia sites and involved: establishing a consensual understanding of the concept of fisheries refugia among participants and prioritizing sites for inclusion in a national and regional system of fisheries refugia. The consultations also considered available information on areas critical to the life-cycles of demersal and pelagic species along the South China Sea coast of Malaysia. The priority fisheries refugia sites selected for Malaysia are at (1) Tg. Leman, Johor, and (2) Kuala Baram, Sarawak. These sites are depicted in Figure 1.

Figure 1:Sites selected in Malaysia for inclusion in an initial system of fisheries refugia