See Sea - The Paradise And Consciousness: Environmental Transition And Climate Impacts On The Sea Nomads (Bajau Laut)

Abstract

This article explores how people interact with the environment and examines the social, livelihood, and health impacts of climate change on fishing communities. These challenges are particularly formidable for traditional seafaring communities such as the Bajau Laut, whose lives are deeply connected to the sea. The Bajau Laut’s  historic mobility functioned as an ecological regulator, balancing human subsistence with marine ecosystem productivity. This balance has shifted due to rising environmental damage, overfishing, socio-political exclusion, and displacement to semi-permanent coastal settlements. We highlight how Bajau Laut's relationship with their marine and coastal environment is evolving, and how environmental changes, statelessness, and socio-economic marginalisation heighten ecological risks. Combining literature research with photographic and video documentation, it places the Bajau Laut within broader discussions on environmental justice, coastal ecosystem sustainability, and the resilience of marginalised maritime communities.