Baggio - "sea gypsies" Bashny.Net

In south-east Asia is home to the nomadic seafaring people Baggio, who almost without victims survived the infamous 2004 earthquake that caused the tsunami in the Indian Ocean. And all because of these "sea gypsies" have adapted to live in the sea, coming ashore only to bury their dead.

Photographer and anthropologist by training, James Morgan made a selection of photos, thus documenting the existence of this unique people:

Bajo ethnic group or Malays lived in the sea for centuries, mainly in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.




Baggio traditionally settled in boats called "Lepa Lepa," made by hand. They have everything you need for nomadic life: kitchen utensils, kerosene lamps, food, drinking water, and even plants. Baggio go ashore to sell or buy necessary goods or repair the boat.



Baggio survive at the expense of spearfishing - they are first-class freedivers and can dive without scuba gear to a depth of thirty meters in search of sea bass, pearls and sea cucumbers.



Diving is a daily occupation Baggio from an early age, so often their eardrums ruptured, sometimes intentionally.



This way of life is fraught with many dangers. Many fishermen maimed or die from decompression sickness. This decompression illness occurs when a person is immersed, and then rises to the surface before the body pressure relief.



Every year people Baggio is becoming increasingly difficult to live in the sea, because fish stocks are almost exhausted due to uncontrolled fishing.



Sea Gypsies make their living mainly trade in sea bass or fish-Napoleon, selling their Hong Kong fishing companies.



Illegal methods of fishing with dynamite Baggio taught to soldiers during World War II. Since then, they put their environment great harm.



On top of that they are engaged in fishing using cyanide, which is released from the plastic bottles directly at the school of fish. Cyanide paralyzes the fish, allowing it to sell more alive. However, this method of fishing poisons the entire coral reef that feeds Baggio.



Alas, a vicious circle: that though something to earn a living, the fishermen are forced to catch lots of fish, in obedience to the requirements of the insatiable global market, at the same time destroying the population of fish and reefs.



Fish goes to Hong Kong enterprises, where it is pumped with steroids to keep it alive. Asian restaurants are willing to pay for the live fish a lot of money.



In recent years, the government is forcing marine nomads to move to the land, because of what they may permanently lose their culture. Baggio are often at odds with the governments of different countries, as in search of a good catch, they can cross an international border.



Since the culture of nomads obviously coming to a close, after the death of the present generation who will no longer live in the sea. In recent years, young people are increasingly Baggio leaves their settlements in search of work in the city.



However, there is a hope that the situation will improve the situation of sea gypsies. The World Wildlife Fund and Conservation International will organize various programs for the rational use of marine resources.



Publication of photos of James Morgan «South China Morning Post» caused a wide public outcry about the trade situation between Hong Kong as a major consumer of fish and the people Baggio.