Rocks in a river in Halmahera, North Maluku.Halmahera, North Maluku. · October 2026(3) This fishing tradition includes spotting and selecting a particular fish before casting the hook and bait. The fisherman repeatedly submerges his head, and sometimes part of his upper body, in the water from his boat, waiting patiently for the fish to take the bait.”Guraici Islands, North Maluku · June 2026(2) The method involves submerging one’s head in the seawater from a boat. It requires diving goggles and traditional fishing gear, and is typically practised at depths of 10 to 20 metres. Although ‘ba lobe’ is generally understood in North Maluku as a form of spearfishing, often practised by local people along the shore at night during low tide, the fishermen of Lelei village adopt a different approach. They carry it out during the day. Guraici Islands, North Maluku · June 2026(1) Ralf Mumulati, one of our editors, reflects on ‘ba lobe’, a special fishing practice in North Maluku: “Not far from the Guraici Islands, one can observe a rather distinctive practice among local fishermen. From a distance, their small fibreglass boats appear to list to one side, resting right at the water’s edge, a sight that immediately catches the eye. Among the many methods used to catch fish, the fishermen of the Guraici Islands employ a particular technique known as ‘ba lobe’. Guraici Islands, North Maluku · June 2026