The Sea Tribe community in Batam, Riau Islands, is increasingly marginalized by rapid industrial development that threatens their traditional fishing grounds and cultural heritage. This development has forced fishermen to travel farther for fewer fish, while the women and children face serious social and cultural challenges.
The Sea Tribe of Batam has been an integral part of the region’s cultural tapestry, relying on the coastal waters for sustenance. However, recent industrial developments have severely impacted their way of life, pushing the community to the brink of cultural extinction.
Kaca, a 54-year-old Sea Tribe member from Air Mas on Tanjung Sauh Island, reports a 40% drop in fishing income due to polluted waters and damaged coral reefs caused by nearby industrial activities, including extensive land reclamation.
As fishing becomes increasingly untenable, many community members, like Abdul Ahad from Pulau Dare, are compelled to switch to alternative livelihoods, such as gardening, to sustain their families.
The replacement of mangrove forests with shipbuilding industries particularly affects the Pulau Dare community, erasing essential natural resources and traditional knowledge systems, such as weather prediction by star navigation and unique fishing techniques.
Nukila Evanty, chair of the Indigenous Community Initiative (IMA) and researcher for the International Indigenous Women’s Forum, conducted a two-day study to document these challenges. Her research aims to prompt governmental intervention to preserve the Sea Tribe’s cultural and social integrity.
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Evanty emphasizes the necessity for businesses in the Riau Islands to adhere to the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, which mandate thorough social, economic, and environmental impact analyses to protect affected communities.
The plight of the Sea Tribe in Batam highlights critical issues of environmental justice and cultural preservation that resonate globally. For Singaporeans and international visitors, the situation underscores the importance of sustainable development practices that respect indigenous rights and local ecosystems.
Batam’s Sea Tribe faces severe disruptions to their traditional fishing livelihood and cultural practices due to aggressive industrial development. This situation calls for urgent attention to the principles of sustainable development and human rights in regional planning.
Source: Mongabay (2024)
