Restrictions sinking sea gypsies
As their traditional fishing areas are declared national parks and closed off to them, members of the group fight to survive. But recent policy moves could help preserve their culture
- Published: 11 Nov 2012 at 02.36
- Newspaper section: News
Sanit tried to maintain his stride while walking towards the sea, but everybody knew that he was sick.
ADAPTING TO A NEW AGE: This sea gypsy fishing off Phuket’s Rawai beach has seen many restrictions imposed on his lifestyle over the last 20 years.
A while ago, Sanit, who is 36, was diving down more than 20m to collect fish from traps on the seabed and rose to the surface too quickly. That caused him to suffer decompression sickness, commonly known as the bends.
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