Photography Identity & Community
11.10.2024
Photographer Rachele Daminelli documents the seaweed farmers of Nusa Lembongan in Indonesia, and their commitment to practices that support their communities, their families, and the planet.
Each day, beneath the warm Indonesian sun, farmers on Nusa Lembongan step into the sea, guided by tides and tradition.
Seaweed farming on the small island, which sits off the southeast coast of the main island of Bali, dates back to the 1980s when a businessman from Surabaya introduced the practice to Jungut Batu village. It quickly gained popularity, and by 2010, Nusa Lembongan became known as one of the largest high-quality producers in Indonesia.
Today, farmers work hard in harsh conditions, adapting to the tides rather than a fixed schedule, often laboring through the night or under extreme heat. Using traditional boats for transportation, the cultivation process requires farmers, mostly women, wade out to sea to plant, tend, and harvest seaweed for little profit. The good news is that seaweed cultivation requires no pesticides or freshwater, absorbs significant amounts of carbon dioxide, and plays a pivotal role in mitigating climate change. The waste generated from cultivating seaweed can be used as fertilizers for land-based agriculture, and as an industry, it encourages farmers to actively participate in maintaining beach and foreshore cleanliness.
From planting algae during a low tide until the seaweed is collected and laid out to dry in the sun, this series spotlights the inspiring work of Indonesia’s seaweed farmers and their commitment to practices that support their communities, their families, and the planet.