NON-FISHERIES RESOURCES
Malaysia's seas provide a wealth of non-fisheries resources, the three major ones being oil and gas fields, tourism centres and the development of pharmaceuticals from marine organisms. Of these, oil and gas production is currently the most valuable.
The large oil and gas deposits—the carbon-rich legacy of once-living organisms—are located in the shallow Malaysian seas of the Sunda Shelf and are relatively easy to tap. Through its national petroleum corporation, Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS), Malaysia has adopted the practice of production sharing to exploit its resources, by contracting international oil and gas companies to participate in the exploration, development and production of its petroleum resources.
Tourism is also a valuable non-fisheries resource in Malaysia, contributing almost RM10 billion ringgit annually to the economy. Many tourists, especially those from temperate countries, come in search of the sun and the sea. Since over half of the Malaysian tropical coastline comprises sandy beaches, these form the main focus of the country's tourism. In addition, many of the coasts are endowed with fringing coral reefs, such as those around the east coast islands of Redang, Perhentian and Tioman. These reefs and the oceanic reef off Sipadan, eastern Sabah, are a major draw for diving and snorkelling. Although mangroves may not appear as visually attractive as coral reefs, they have great potential for ecotourism. They are home to many species of birds and animals and attract migratory birds from all over the world. Recognizing the need for conservation and the potential for tourism, the government has turned some mangroves into parks, such as the Kuala Selangor Nature Park. It is now widely accepted that marine tourism development needs to be carefully planned and controlled in order to avoid damage to the environment.
Many pharmaceutical products are derived from marine organisms. At present, seaweeds, which are plentiful along Malaysian shores, contribute substantially to such products. Malaysia has one of the highest marine biodiversities in the world. It is thought that many chemical compounds are yet to be identified and isolated from the great diversity of the country's marine plants and animals. Extracts from a species of sea cucumber (Stichopus variegatus), known locally as the golden sea cucumber, have recently been commercialized for use in painkillers as well as in toothpaste and skin creams. Traditional medicines make great use of marine organisms, and as the commercial development of marine-originated pharmaceuticals is still a young industry in Malaysia there are, no doubt, many other uses and applications to be discovered over the coming years.