“Last Sea Nomads,”

lived completely on the area’s water surface. Consequently, their genetics adapted to the sea and they became heavily reliant on area fishing for income. However, since the mid-1970s, commercial fishers entered the area and outcompeted the Bajau Laut’s passive cultural traditional fishing techniques. Climate change plus the government deeming the Bajau Laut as stateless people, with no recognized legal rights, exacerbated their dilemma.

The indigenous group is dispersed over a maritime environment of 1.25 million square miles. This physical environment dominated by sea and island has an intimate relationship with the Bajau as they are heavily reliant on the sea for food and income. The co-existence of land amongst the vast sea forms the Bajau’s representations of orientation, patterns of navigation, lifestyle, and direction.

Semporna referred to as “at the end of the forest” by the Bajau is located in Sabah, Malaysia. The peninsula consists of high isolated volcanic peaks, mountains, and rich biodiversity. Some species local to the region are mushroom coral (lithophyllon ranjithi), ovulid snails, and nudibranch.

The Bajau’s spleens have grown to be 50% larger than the average spleen for humans which produces more oxygen in the blood allowing them to hold their breath underwater for thirteen minutes.