Escalation of Coastal Erosion in Terengganu: Drivers, Shoreline-Change Evidence at Pantai Telaga Papan, and Malaysian Government Response

Abstract The Terengganu coastline, particularly in Setiu and Kuala Nerus, has experienced accelerating erosion, with average rates increasing from 10 to 12 m/year in the early 2000s to 20 to 30 m/year in recent years, pushing several areas to a critical level. This study focuses on Pantai Telaga Papan (Setiu), where the erosion category shifted from significant (Category 2, NCES 2015) to critical (Category 1, ISMP 2019), largely driven by monsoon storms. Shoreline change data were obtained from the feasibility study of Projek Pemuliharaan Muara Sungai Merang by the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID), which utilized multi-year satellite imagery (Landsat TM, ETM+, OLI and Sentinel-2) to extract shoreline positions using the wet/dry line as a proxy for the Mean High Water (MHW). The Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) was applied across 250 transects at 50 m spacing, and shoreline change rates were computed using the Linear Regression Rate (LRR), providing statistically robust long-term trends. Results indicate maximum shoreline retreat of up to 30 m/year, strongly influenced by low sediment input from the Merang Estuary and a cape-like formation that blocks northward sand transport, restricting littoral drift. At Pantai Bari, government interventions including curved seawalls, sandbags, and revetments have reduced localized retreat but displaced erosion hotspots to neighboring coasts. This study represents the first integrated geomorphic and policy assessment for Telaga Papan, linking shoreline dynamics with management responses. The findings emphasize the need for restoring sediment continuity from Merang to Pantai Bari, promoting berm and dune recovery through nature-based solutions, and enforcing setback policies to ensure long-term coastal resilience and sustainable estuarine management.