86
perception, management and classification of human-faunal interactions (Badge
and Jain 2013). On the other hand, Marques (2002) considered it as a trans-disciplinary study of the knowledge and beliefs, sentiments and behaviours linking relationships between human populations and animal species. Alvez and Souto (2015)
concluded that ethnozoology is a discipline that examines the historical, economic,
sociological, anthropological and environmental aspects between humans and animals. This means that it combines the elements of natural and social sciences.
Ethnozoology can be classified into different disciplines according to the animal
taxon; ethnoentomology (insects), ethnoichthyology (fish), ethnoornithology
(birds), ethnomastozoology (mammals), ethnoherpetology (amphibians, reptiles)
and ethnoprimatology (primates) (Alves and Souto 2015).
Ethnoichthyology deals with the utilisation of fish resources by indigenous communities. Historically, various animals, including fish, have been utilised by indigenous people for many purposes, such as for protein and medicine, as well as rituals.
Indigenous people are recognised for having elaborate knowledge about the
resources they exploited (Badge and Jain 2013; Nishida et al. 2006; Seixas and
Begossi 2001; Paz and Begossi 1996; Ankei 1989). This knowledge is important
because it may be used as additional information in perfecting scientific knowledge,
such as resource management and sustainable development (Sillitoe 1998; Posey
1984). In Peninsular Malaysia, fishing is part of the lifestyle of indigenous communities known as the Orang Asli. The Orang Asli are one of the earliest people to live
in Peninsular Malaysia, with their history going back to at least 25,000 years
(Nicholas 2000). The Orang Asli in Peninsular Malaysia are divided into three
major tribes, which are the Semang (Negrito), Senoi and Proto-Malay (Department
of Statistics Malaysia 1997; Nicholas and Raajen 1996; Carey 1976). The Orang
Asli are commonly regarded as hunter-gatherers and they collected natural resources
from the forest for sustenance. The Semoq Beri sub-tribe in Terengganu state (part
of the Senoi tribe) regards the forest as a “bank”, in which their sources of livelihood are safely stored (Ramle et al. 2014).
There are several scientific studies that have been done on fish and aquatic
resource utilisation by the Orang Asli as listed in Table 1. However, some information on the resources are outdated, especially on fish, with some species not mentioned. This is exacerbated by frequent taxonomic revisions (Chong et al. 2010).
The Orang Asli utilised aquatic resources like fish, frogs, snails and turtles, in
some instances, purely for food (Sharma 1999). Fish seemed to be their main source
of protein (Sok 2003; Low 2000; Alias 1999; Ali et al. 1991). The Orang Asli also
utilised aquatic resources for medicine (Yahaya 2015; Azliza et al. 2012), besides
fulfilling their belief and tradition (Yahaya 2015; Meyer-Rochow 2009; Ali and
Isa 2005).
This paper aims to provide information on the aquatic resources and fish utilised
by the Orang Asli living near Tasik Kenyir, which is the biggest man-made lake in
southeast Asia. In addition, their sustainability of their livelihood in using those
resources will also be discussed.
M. S. A. Ariffin et al.
perception, management and classification of human-faunal interactions (Badge
and Jain 2013). On the other hand, Marques (2002) considered it as a trans-disciplinary study of the knowledge and beliefs, sentiments and behaviours linking relationships between human populations and animal species. Alvez and Souto (2015)
concluded that ethnozoology is a discipline that examines the historical, economic,
sociological, anthropological and environmental aspects between humans and animals. This means that it combines the elements of natural and social sciences.
Ethnozoology can be classified into different disciplines according to the animal
taxon; ethnoentomology (insects), ethnoichthyology (fish), ethnoornithology
(birds), ethnomastozoology (mammals), ethnoherpetology (amphibians, reptiles)
and ethnoprimatology (primates) (Alves and Souto 2015).
Ethnoichthyology deals with the utilisation of fish resources by indigenous communities. Historically, various animals, including fish, have been utilised by indigenous people for many purposes, such as for protein and medicine, as well as rituals.
Indigenous people are recognised for having elaborate knowledge about the
resources they exploited (Badge and Jain 2013; Nishida et al. 2006; Seixas and
Begossi 2001; Paz and Begossi 1996; Ankei 1989). This knowledge is important
because it may be used as additional information in perfecting scientific knowledge,
such as resource management and sustainable development (Sillitoe 1998; Posey
1984). In Peninsular Malaysia, fishing is part of the lifestyle of indigenous communities known as the Orang Asli. The Orang Asli are one of the earliest people to live
in Peninsular Malaysia, with their history going back to at least 25,000 years
(Nicholas 2000). The Orang Asli in Peninsular Malaysia are divided into three
major tribes, which are the Semang (Negrito), Senoi and Proto-Malay (Department
of Statistics Malaysia 1997; Nicholas and Raajen 1996; Carey 1976). The Orang
Asli are commonly regarded as hunter-gatherers and they collected natural resources
from the forest for sustenance. The Semoq Beri sub-tribe in Terengganu state (part
of the Senoi tribe) regards the forest as a “bank”, in which their sources of livelihood are safely stored (Ramle et al. 2014).
There are several scientific studies that have been done on fish and aquatic
resource utilisation by the Orang Asli as listed in Table 1. However, some information on the resources are outdated, especially on fish, with some species not mentioned. This is exacerbated by frequent taxonomic revisions (Chong et al. 2010).
The Orang Asli utilised aquatic resources like fish, frogs, snails and turtles, in
some instances, purely for food (Sharma 1999). Fish seemed to be their main source
of protein (Sok 2003; Low 2000; Alias 1999; Ali et al. 1991). The Orang Asli also
utilised aquatic resources for medicine (Yahaya 2015; Azliza et al. 2012), besides
fulfilling their belief and tradition (Yahaya 2015; Meyer-Rochow 2009; Ali and
Isa 2005).
This paper aims to provide information on the aquatic resources and fish utilised
by the Orang Asli living near Tasik Kenyir, which is the biggest man-made lake in
southeast Asia. In addition, their sustainability of their livelihood in using those
resources will also be discussed.
M. S. A. Ariffin et al.