A Tale Of Two Fishermen

Much attention is focused on Raja Ampat’s animals and land and seascapes. But there is one vital aspect of the area which is often overlooked: the local people, and tourism’s impact on their lives.

- Alex Lindbloom

THOUSANDS OF TOURISTS come from all over the world to blow bubbles in Raja Ampat. But there are people who have lived here since long before all this, people who have made their lives from Raja’s rich waters and continue to do so. These people have seen huge changes, some of which may have affected their lives and livelihoods as well.

IS RAJA’S STATUS WORKING FOR THE PEOPLE?

In 2004 Raja Ampat was listed as a marine protected area as well as the world’s first manta sanctuary. Local residents are still allowed to fish, although fishing species like sharks, mantas, turtles, and dugong is strictly prohibited, along with certain destructive fishing methods like dynamite fishing. With a steady influx of visitors, brought into the area largely by the the region’s incredible and now famous diving, the tourism industry is growing at a steady rate. As eco-resorts, homestays, and liveaboards slowly establish themselves here, they seem to be opening up a wide range of new job opportunities for people as boat captains, dive guides, construction workers and others.

From most peoples’ perspectives all these things sound like an instant win – protected waters and lots of new jobs. Winner! But it would be naive to think that everyone would perceive these new changes as a positive thing, specifically those whose lives are changing. After all, the people of Raja have been living here, in more or less the same way, for generations – making their living from what they’ve harvested from the land and sea – only to watch it all that change in less than a decade.