The level of knowledge on search and rescue among the fishermen in Kuala Terengganu

Abstract

Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has been entrusted to coordinate search and rescue (SAR) duties in the Malaysia maritime zone since 2006. The study on the level of knowledge on search and rescue among the fishermen in Kuala Terengganu is closely related to the safety level either at themselves or the fishing vessel that they use while at sea. Based on the MMEA 2009 Annual Report, the statistic of emergency victims that has been conducted by the MMEA shows that the local fishermen occupy the highest percentage which is 39% based on the category of emergency victims involved. The project adopts the methods of questionnaires that have been given to the fishermen in North and South Kuala Terengganu area, and semi structured interview to the officers of Department of Fisheries (DOF) Terengganu, Malaysian Fisheries Institute (MFI) at Chendering and Kuala Terengganu Maritime District (DM9). The objectives of the study are to determine the current level of knowledge and exposure on SAR among the fishermen in Kuala Terengganu and to review the courses of training on safety at sea that are issued by the Malaysian Fisheries Institute to the fishermen in Kuala Terengganu. The global role of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the role DOF and MMEA for the safety of fishermen are discussed in the literature review. For the methodology, the primary resources will be obtained through direct conversations with question and answer session, use of questionnaires and field observations. Then, the secondary resources will be obtained through publications, journals, articles, thesis and texts related to the case study. The descriptive analysis of questionnaire is carried out according to the section A, B and C, the review on the courses of training on safety at sea and the level of knowledge and exposure on SAR among the fishermen in Kuala Terengganu are discussed in order to get the result more precisely as well as achieve the objectives of study such as to determine the current level of knowledge and level of exposure on SAR among the fishermen in Kuala Terengganu, and to review the courses of training on safety at sea that are issued by the MFI to the fishermen in Kuala Terengganu. In conclusion, the level of knowledge and exposure on SAR among the fishermen in Kuala Terengganu can be said at low level and poor based on the results analysis meanwhile the courses of training on the safety at sea are the courses which in the Basic Safety Training (BST) that be issued by the MFI since 2011. However, the responsible authorities should enhance the dissemination of BST in order to ensure and attract the fishermen in Kuala Terengganu to have the knowledge about the safety at sea.