The last whale hunters of Indonesia

msnbc.com,

Meredith Birkett says: Photographer Luke Duggleby captured stunning and startling images of the centuries-old tradition of whaling in Indonesia.

At a May 2009 World Oceans Conference, the Indonesian government officially declared 3.5 million hectares of critical marine habitat in the Savu Sea for conservation. Though government representatives have assured that traditional whaling -- which has been supporting the surrounding communities means of living -- will not be banned in the area immediately outside the zone, concerns still remain. Lamalera is one of the last remaining Indonesian whaling communities and is categorized by the International Whaling Commission as aboriginal whaling.

The Indonesian village of Lamalera has hunted whales, sharks and dolphins for the last 500 years. Their method is to leap from a small wooden boat with a long harpoon made of bamboo and spear the animal. In this picture, the harpooner called Gregorious dives from the front of the boat to harpoon a large whale shark which he hits in the head. (Photo: Luke Duggleby / Redux)

Because of the size of the whale shark. which can grow as long as 40 feet, it must be cut up in to small pieces. Here they attempt to get the head in to the boat which takes all the crew members. (Photo: Luke Duggleby / Redux)

Two pilot whales are brought to the beach having been harpooned at sea. Once brought to shore the animal is divided in to parts and distributed to the community, partly for consumption and partly for exchanging with other inland communities for corn and rice. (Photo: Luke Duggleby / Redux)

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RI, Australia to discuss Maluku`s small island problems

Antara News, Thursday, May 27, 2010 19:11 WIB

Ambon, Maluku (ANTARA News) - Indonesian and Australian government representatives will meet in Ambon on August 4-6, 2010 to discuss problems affecting small islands in Maluku province, a local official said.

The head of Maluku province`s maritime affairs and fisheries office, Polly Kayhattu said here on Thursday the discussions would follow up decisions made at the World Ocean Conference (WOC) which was held as part of Sail Bunaken in Manado, North Sulawesi in July 2009.

He said the conference, themed "Save the Small Islands in Maluku for the Next Generation," was being intensively coordinated by the provincial maritime affairs and fisheries office with the Australian Embassy in Jakarta.

"The international conference between Indonesia and Australia will focus on climate change and its impact on small islands in Maluku province," Kayhattu said.

According to him, matters related to investment in maritime and fisheries sector, illegal fishing, and fisheries management would also be discussed in the conference.

In addition, business meeting and interaction between Maluku and Darwin, Australia, would also be intensified.

"Maluku provincial government is consulting a plan to sign an cooperation agreement with Darwin through a coordination between Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry and Australian Embassy," Kayhattu said.

He added that the Indonesia-Australia conference on small islands in Maluku would coincide with a seafood exhibition involving Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea (PNG) from July 31-August 5, 2010.

"The three countries: Australia, New Zealand, and PNG will also participate in the upcoming international marine event of Sail Banda 2010," he said.

Kayhatto added that the exhibition, themed "Seafood for Quality of Life," would have a strategic value to promote Maluku which is to be declared by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as the national fish barn here on August 3.