BUBE: Traditional Tools for Catching Crabs

Bube, the local term for a simple tool made of bamboo arranged in such a way, has been used by residents here for generations to catch crabs, especially in the swampy areas beside the river. So! How does this tool look, and how does it work? Here we will try to illustrate it:

This is the initial stage, when they are preparing this crab fishing gear. Previously, they had confirmed the right time to hunt for crabs and that the water conditions that were receding were the right time because this type of swamp crab really likes muddy soil habitats. This fishing equipment has the shape of a multilayer circle. A circle covered with bamboo and made of fishing net-weaving threads is supported by an iron wire structure.

They prefer to use fresh chicken heads as bait when hunting for crabs because these chicken heads are very easy to find in traditional markets.

Now is the time for them to install the bait after making sure all of the equipment is ready. Here is how it works:

And it's time for them to act to install this fishing gear at several points. The boat is their access to several predetermined points. Since this was routine work, they easily selected and marked location points beforehand.

Here, at several points in the swamp area, mangrove trees still grow. Mangrove roots will be easily seen when the river water is receding. This condition makes swamp crabs like this habitat.

My dear friends, wherever you are, look at the young people here! They are very tough in boating, and in my opinion, their enthusiasm deserves a thumbs up. They work and are very friendly with nature, and of course, their work will certainly have an impact on their daily economy.

Crab hunting ended with the planting of crab traps in several locations. Usually, after this work is done, they have to wait a few hours to return to the location to confirm the catch. At this stage, I was unable to document their activities for one reason or another. Hopefully, someday I'll document this moment again!

The narrative in this post is the result of interviews with local youths.

Photographs were taken: The Cunda River Lhokseumawe - Indonesia. This pictures taken with: Canon EOS 6D camera+70-300mm Lens.

Thank you by @ichsannanda; nandaalbintang.