"The Time-Honored Tradition of Whale Hunting in Lembata Regency: A Glimpse into the Indigenous Culture"

 Lembata Regency, a regency in East Nusa Tenggara Province, has a unique tradition that has been carried on since ancient times: the whaling tradition.

Although this activity often sounds controversial and is not considered environmentally friendly, for some local residents this tradition has become an inseparable part of their lives.

Whaling in Lembata is not only done because of the economic need for whale meat, but there are also socio-cultural reasons that play an important role in this activity.

According to local residents, the presence of whales in the waters around Lembata has spiritual value and their existence is seen as a natural gift that they can take advantage of.

The whaling process begins with the search for the place where the whales appear.

Local residents generally view whaling as a community activity that requires a lot of people.

After discovering the location, they will catch the whale using a Jernang palm fiber crab net.

These crab nets are quite large and can reach hundreds of meters in length.

The difficulty of whaling cannot be underestimated, as whales, as the largest marine mammals, can weigh between 30 and 40 tons.

Therefore, when the attraction of the whale is felt, the community must work together to capture it using a fishing boat about 20 to 30 meters long.

Whaling in Lembata is considered risky and could endanger public safety.

Therefore, the heavy burden falls on the pandega or supervisor who prioritizes the safety of all those involved.

In general, whaling in Lembata does not use harpoons or other fishing gear, and whale meat is not used as a commodity either.

Currently, whaling in Lembata is regulated by the state and its use is only permitted for traditional purposes.

The government is working with local communities and ecological networks to ensure that whaling takes place without destroying the environment and that biodiversity is maintained.

In general, the whaling tradition in the Lembata district, although controversial, remains an important part of local community life.

These activities not only represent economic resources but also have deep cultural meaning for the community.

Now the collaboration between the government and the local community ensures that this tradition is still upheld through sustainable hunting activities and maintaining ecological balance and sustainability.