Exploring livelihood assets among inland fishing communities: Evidence from the Sungai Pahang, Malaysia

Abstract

The Inland fishing community consisted of Inland fishermen and cage fish farmers. They are among the vulnerable rural groups that require economic assistance. Their dependence on natural resources results in unstable income and increased vulnerability. The vulnerability affects their well-being and livelihoods. Therefore, this study helps by addressing livelihood assets that help minimise vulnerability among the inland fishing community. This paper aims to identify and explore the livelihood assets of inland fishermen and cage fish farmers along the Sungai Pahang. The study employs the Sustainable Livelihood Framework (SLF) to identify five livelihood assets: human, natural, financial, physical, and social assets. A survey was conducted among 521 respondents, including 261 inland fishermen and 260 cage fish farmers, using a structured questionnaire. The study was conducted in five districts along the Sungai Pahang Jerantut, Temerloh, Bera, Maran, and Pekan. The data was then analysed through exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to identify the main dimensions of the five livelihood assets within the inland fishing community groups. The data were also checked with reliability coefficients (Cronbach’s alpha). The findings show that inland fishermen depend heavily on financial assets 79.53% variance and physical assets 76.48% variance, highlighting the importance of access to credit and fishing gear for their livelihoods. In contrast, cage fish farmers mainly rely on social assets, accounting for 77.96% of the variance, and human assets, accounting for 69.67 of % variance. This reflects the cage fish farmers' reliance on relevant government institutions for support, training & skills, health, and experience to sustain cage fish production. Although both community groups share the same river ecosystem, their needs is differ, highlighting the diverse in main livelihood assets within riverine communities. However, both communities identify natural assets as a weak livelihood dimension, reflecting their shared vulnerability. Policy interventions in Malaysia should therefore prioritise river conservation, stricter pollution control, sustainable fishing and aquaculture practices, and community-based environmental awareness programmes. Relevant agencies, including the Department of Environment Malaysia, should collaborate with inland fishing communities to implement integrated, participatory environmental management strategies that enhance livelihood resilience and ensure the long-term sustainability of the Sungai Pahang ecosystem.