Seafaring people have lived in Palawan since around 50,000 years ago and an intricate understanding of the marine world has passed from one generation to the next.
A Calamian spear-fisherman dives for giant clams, locally called Taklobo. Giant clams (Tridacna gigas) are listed as vulnerable by the IUCN. In Palawan, it is forbidden for most people to collect them and they cannot be sold in marketplaces. But there is allowance for indigenous Tagbanua people as they are a traditional source of sustenance. Near Culion Island, Palawan, 2017
Pepoy, an indigenous Tagbanua boy, holds on to the underneath of his boat while watching his father spearfishing. Palawan 2007
Pepoy, an indigenous Tagbanua boy, spearfishes in the open ocean. He is accompanied by his father who keeps a distance to allow his son to develop his own technique.
2007
Bolondong, an indigenous Tagbanua man, searches the seabed for signs of octopuses. Napsan, 2019
Bolondong, an indigenous Tagbanua man, carefully handles an octopus he has just caught. Palawan. 2019
A Calamian spear-fisherman collects a giant clam. Giant clams (Tridacna gigas) are listed as vulnerable by the IUCN. It is forbidden for people to collect them and they cannot be sold in marketplaces. But there is allowance for indigenous Tagbanua people as they are a traditional source of sustenance. Near Culion Island, Palawan, 2017
Local fishermen catch a school of bigeye scad (Selar crumenophthalmus). They have been monitoring this school of fish for weeks, waiting for the perfect time and conditions to catch it. Near Culion Island, Palawan, 2017
A young man dives for shellfish. Near Pangaraykayan Village, northeastern Palawan, 2016
