A land Bajau family of 18 live on Mabul Island illegally. Too large to live on a boat the family now live on Mabul, a private island, that when one day the owner wishes they can be kicked off the land. There is no medical or educational support here for these families.
Bajau people are often known as the 'sea gypsies' of southeast Asia. They live on wooden houseboats or stilt houses mostly in the Celebes sea between the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia. They live off subsistence fishing and underwater hunting and gathering. I first learned about the Bajau in 2010 during a trip to Mabul Island, off the south-eastern coast of Sabah, Malaysia. Some frequent the privately owned Mabul Island to trade any sea bounty that’s excess to their needs for survival, others live on the island illegally. Their connection to the sea runs deep as both an essential provider and a cruel master. The Bajau are known for free diving up to 10 minutes, 30 meters below the surface to secure their catch. Most who are stateless have very limited access to health and education services. During low tide children are sent to fossick for sea urchins and other types of food. This is a perilous pursuit from various threats (such as toad fish) that are extremely poisonous and lurk well disguised on the sea bed. Should a Bajau person be injured by a sea creature like this, there is no medical assistance available to them. The images tell as story of four families. One family of eight that lives on a small boat and three families of 18 and 14 that live on the island of Mabul still using fishing as a main source of income and a fourth smaller family working at the local div reports having given up fishing and living far better off.
Size: 3731px × 2848px
Location: Mabul Island, Sabah, Malaysia
Photo credit: © Christina Simons / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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