Diversity of Malaysian aquatic ecosystems and resources

Abstract

Malaysia has rich aquatic ecosystems that supply vital resources such as water, food, medicine, commercial aquatic resources, energy and transport for economic and social development of its people. In addition, they also provide other services such as flood control, erosion prevention and shoreline protection, recreational fisheries and resources for tourism industry. However, the ubiquitous and abundant supplies of these resources in the past have resulted in minimal concern about their conservation and sustainable exploitation. In fact, these resources are continuously threatened by human activities such as overexploitation of living resources, massive land reclamation and development, discharge of harmful industrial and domestic wastes, and large energy development projects. Threats to the sustainability of these resources in the form of land-based and sea-based pollution are becoming serious, and have affected the health and wealth of the people. The manifestations of the disregard to the aquatic environment are already obvious, as evidenced by the frequent reports on water shortage, polluted rivers and seas, decrease in fisheries commodities, decline of aesthetic values in water-based recreational areas and decrease in biodiversity. Various laws and regulations have not been able to deter some of these ecosystems from being continually exploited on unsustainable basis. Concerted efforts from all stakeholders are critical to protect these valuable ecosystems such that their resources would continue to provide life necessities for generations to come. Preventive measures, such as the implementation of holistic environmental management, increased public education and the early use of efficient and cost-effective pollution control measures through research efforts and the acquisition of clean technology, should be implemented to achieve desired level of pollution abatement. These efforts by the Government should be complemented and supplemented by investments from the private sector to achieve a clean, healthy and productive aquatic environment for both present and future generations.