CURRENT RESEARCH THEME ON RECREATIONAL FISHING IN MALAYSIA: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Abstract

Enjoyed by millions of people of all ages and backgrounds around the world, recreational fishing is a popular activity that has the potential to provide food and social, environmental, and economic benefits. However, if it is not well managed, it may negatively affect aquatic ecosystems. This study aims to review current research trends and analyse the main themes addressed by peer-reviewed papers on recreational fishing in Malaysia. A systematic search addressing recreational fishing in Malaysia was performed through web-based scientific search engines to provide adequate evidence. From the three articles selected, each article was extracted by the ecosystem (i.e., freshwater or saltwater), title, year of publication, and authors. By conducting a systematic analysis, all articles addressing recreational fishing issues in freshwater ecosystems were found. Despite growing concern in developed countries about the potential economic, social, and environmental benefits of recreational fishing, the benefits of recreational fishing in Malaysia have not been well explored, and there is a lack of characterization, highlighting, and addressing knowledge gaps.