The Death of the Youngest Lamafa: Love and the Struggle for Survival of Whale Hunters in Lamalera

This research aims to understand the sea as a cultural space within the context of the Lamalera fishing community on Lembata Island, Indonesia. The Lamalera community is a fishing community with the privilege of catching whales, dolphins, and manta rays – species that are protected. The human relationship with the marine environment is a complex model, encompassing various aspects such as culture, economy, social, political, and spiritual dimensions. This study reveals cultural practices that have developed around the sea, including myths, customs, fishing traditions, maritime trade, and the utilization of marine resources. Furthermore, this research also identifies the role of the sea in shaping the cultural identity of the Lamalera community, including livelihoods, beliefs, and unique cultural practices. Through an interdisciplinary approach involving history, anthropology, sociology, and cultural studies, this research complements previous studies on the sea as a cultural space. The results of this research show that the Lamalera community has a close and unique relationship with the sea through whale hunting practices and other fishing activities. Their highly intensive interaction with the sea as their sole source of livelihood forms the identity of the Lamalera community as a traditional whale hunting fishing community (aboriginal subsistence whaling).