ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACTS OF COASTAL DEVELOPMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE ON FISHING COMMUNITIES IN KUALA TERENGGANU, MALAYSIA

Fishing communities face numerous challenges affected by rapid coastal development and climate change. These issues have threatened the sustainability and livelihoods of their community. The objective of this study was to investigate the impacts of coastal development and climate change on fishing communities in Kuala Terengganu. This research was carried out with 125 members of fishing communities in Kuala Terengganu's coastal areas. The data were collected through questionnaires and analysed using XLSTAT software. The findings from this study showed that the type of climate change did not affect the impacts of climate change towards the fishing community. Moreover, the level of social functionality of the fishing community in Kuala Terengganu remains unaffected by the ongoing development. In conclusion, fishing communities in Kuala Terengganu have successfully managed to preserve their social functionality and resilience despite the challenges posed by coastal development and climate change. Thus, to ensure the long-term resilience and prosperity of these communities in the midst of continuous environmental changes, it is essential to implement sustainable planning and adaptation measures.