680
Y. Rasyid
3 The Pursuit of a Sustainable Livelihood in Pulau
Mantanani, Sabah
Pulau Mantanani is one of the few pristine island located on the western coast of the
state of Sabah (Fig. 2). The island is close to two kilometres long and is surrounding
by the South China Sea on the east and north. A shipwreck diving paradise, Pulau
Mantanani is a preferred tourism destination for both local and international tourists.
The local community is of the Bajau Ubian ethnic group and majority of them
work as artisanal fishermen to meet their daily economic needs. What was once
an island abundant with fishing activities is now threatened by ill-planned tourism
activities, and illegal fishing practices like fish bombing, which has resulted in a
serious depletion of coral reef population, marine life and resources that are found
around the island.
In the case of Pulau Mantanani, the local Bajau Ubian community is also facing
other challenges related to their livelihoods. Poverty is one the main issues faced by
the local population on the island of about 800 Bajau Ubian community members
(Hussin et al. 2015). The lack of diverse economic opportunities and also the lack
of proper skills and knowledge on other economic activities have forced the local
community to be solely dependent on their fishing skills and methods (Hussin and
Weirowski 2013).
Fig. 2 A map of the location of Pulau Mantanani in Sabah, Malaysia (Source Google Maps)
Y. Rasyid
3 The Pursuit of a Sustainable Livelihood in Pulau
Mantanani, Sabah
Pulau Mantanani is one of the few pristine island located on the western coast of the
state of Sabah (Fig. 2). The island is close to two kilometres long and is surrounding
by the South China Sea on the east and north. A shipwreck diving paradise, Pulau
Mantanani is a preferred tourism destination for both local and international tourists.
The local community is of the Bajau Ubian ethnic group and majority of them
work as artisanal fishermen to meet their daily economic needs. What was once
an island abundant with fishing activities is now threatened by ill-planned tourism
activities, and illegal fishing practices like fish bombing, which has resulted in a
serious depletion of coral reef population, marine life and resources that are found
around the island.
In the case of Pulau Mantanani, the local Bajau Ubian community is also facing
other challenges related to their livelihoods. Poverty is one the main issues faced by
the local population on the island of about 800 Bajau Ubian community members
(Hussin et al. 2015). The lack of diverse economic opportunities and also the lack
of proper skills and knowledge on other economic activities have forced the local
community to be solely dependent on their fishing skills and methods (Hussin and
Weirowski 2013).
Fig. 2 A map of the location of Pulau Mantanani in Sabah, Malaysia (Source Google Maps)