FOR CENTURIES, coastal cities have thrived at the intersection of human civilisation and the natural world, drawing their identity, economy and way of life from the sea. Penang and Tongyeong are two such cities—both rich in maritime heritage, both reliant on fisheries and aquaculture, and both celebrated for their unique blend of history, arts and culture.
Yet, as I embarked on my two-month academic attachment at the Regional Centre of Expertise (RCE) in Tongyeong, South Korea, as its 5th Sejahtera Fellow, I noticed a fundamental difference: marine conservation is deeply embedded in Tongyeong’s everyday life in ways that Penang has yet to fully embrace.
