Fr Gabby Lamug-Nañawa SJ, Br Dieng Karnedi SJ, and Br Jasper Ong SJ visited the Anambas archipelago in Indonesia from 13 to 16 July to participate in a coral reef restoration project funded by Creators of Hope through the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific Reconciliation with Creation Network. Brother Jasper reflects on the personal impact of his experience.

I thought I was going on a simple conservation trip, but what I realised was that following Christ meant seeing how our choices affect the lives of coastal communities.

After 10 hours on a ferry, a flight, and a boat ride, we finally arrived on Talega Island in the Anambas archipelago, six hours by sea from Tioman, Malaysia. The sun scorched us on our last stretch from Letong. Waves slapped the hull of our boat until a small village of wooden houses along the shore came into view. We were greeted by an overcast sky over pristine blue waters. A sense of familiarity, peace, and comfort washed over me as I stepped off the boat.

Fauzan, whom we had met in Batam, introduced us to Ricky, Novita, Fafa, Rahman, Randi, and other members of the Anambas Foundation, which organised the Guardians of the Anambas Seas. These local defenders of the ocean would prove pivotal in reshaping my understanding of our interconnected world.

Once, I noticed one of the Guardians climbing slowly off the boat, gripping the edge and easing onto the ladder as the waves rocked us. His body swayed in an unsteady rhythm, swinging from side to side. It was as though his legs were numb and could barely support him. This struck me as strange, but the other members seemed unfazed.

Ricky and Novita later told me that he had once been a compressor diver. He used to dive 20 to 30 metres with only a hose connected to a compressor on the surface. Now, in his late 20s, decompression sickness has paralysed him from the waist down. A young man like him should not be resigned to such a state.

They shared that he had been collecting sea cucumbers bound for Hong Kong and Singapore. A cold feeling settled in my stomach. Sea cucumbers. Memories of every Chinese New Year I had enjoyed came flooding back. I watched him hobble down the barge; my words caught in my throat as I recalled the anticipation I felt as my grandmother prepared sea cucumber braised with hair-like seaweed, the aroma filling the entire house. How many times have I had sea cucumber—20, 30, or 100? Now, each recollection is connected to the crushing depths this Guardian endured. A dish of familial warmth has become intertwined with someone else’s desperate gamble with paralysis for survival.

Fourth from left: Br Dieng Karnedi SJ, Fr Gabby Lamug-Nañawa SJ, and Br Jasper Ong SJ with members of the Anambas Foundation

Dynamite fishing used to be prevalent in this region due to a lack of awareness about its consequences, driving marine life deeper into the ocean. Sea cucumbers, which are sought after in Hong Kong and Singapore, became harder to find. Yet, buyers still demanded impossible quotas. To meet these demands, the locals ventured deeper, forced to work longer hours at greater depths. Without knowledge of the dangers of diving deep and decompression stops, many compressor divers developed mysterious illnesses. Some stopped once they understood the risks, but for many, the realisation came far too late. Young men were left paralysed, while others suffered from neurological dysfunction from decompression sickness. The most gut-wrenching fact was that their earnings were minuscule compared to the prices fetched in the markets here in Singapore.

This encounter made tangible the human cost of our global trade that values growth and profit over people’s wellbeing. I had been a simple consumer, detached from the lives of coastal communities who are risking their health and lives to sustain the system I had benefited from. We live in a system that turns a blind eye to injustices around us. It is hard to believe that such a system is built on care for others.

Jesus gave his life to care for those who have been pushed aside by society. As Christians, we ought to show the same concern for our coastal brothers and sisters. In Laudato sí 161, Pope Francis reminds us: “The effects of the present imbalance can only be reduced by our decisive action, here and now. We need to reflect on our accountability before those who will have to endure the dire consequences.”

The Anambas Foundation’s “Below, Above, and Beyond” programme is a living testament to the Christian virtues of care for our neighbour. I left wondering what more I could do to collaborate with caring for our coastal sisters and brothers—and to help create hope in our world.