Sustainable Coastal Waste Governance through the Lens of Fishing Families: Evidence from Sebatik Island

Abstract Coastal waste has emerged as a global environmental issue in recent years. Addressing this challenge requires an understanding of community perceptions in coastal areas to strengthen and support government-led interventions. Therefore, this study aims to examine the perspectives of traditional fishing households regarding the dynamics of coastal waste management. Data on community perceptions were collected through: (1) a socio-economic profile survey; (2) a needs analysis assessment of traditional fishing households regarding coastal waste management practices in their surrounding environment; (3) knowledge transfer activities focusing on the importance of transforming coastal waste into innovative products; and (4) participatory observations to obtain a comprehensive understanding of local conditions. The findings indicate that fishermen communities in Sebatik Island are characterized by socio-economic vulnerability, reflected in limited income, low educational attainment, high household dependency burdens, and restricted access to financial capital. Although communities demonstrate a relatively high level of awareness regarding the urgency of waste management, implementation practices remain constrained by limited technical capacity and insufficient support from empowerment programs. This study concludes that coastal waste governance programs must be aligned with the socio-economic characteristics of fishing communities to ensure accountable, responsive, participatory, and innovative waste management systems. The study recommends integrating coastal waste management programs with broader poverty alleviation agendas for fishing communities. The recommendations focus on four key aspects: (1) developing community-based waste management systems; (2) utilizing waste as a source of coastal economic diversification; (3) strengthening the capacity of fishing communities; and (4) enhancing cross-border collaboration in managing waste within frontier coastal regions. These findings provide a knowledge foundation for the subsequent planning of community empowerment programs aimed at reducing the negative impacts of inadequate waste governance while strengthening the socio-economic resilience of coastal communities.