Their home in the sea.

• Position: THE BIG PICTURE - Bajau Laut - Brief article

No, the people in this photo aren't victims of massive flooding; they actually live at sea. They're part of the Bajau Laut, a nomadic sea tribe that for centuries has made its home in the shallow waters off the coast of the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Also known as "sea gypsies," the Bajau spend most of their lives on boats, diving to catch fish and shellfish to eat. They go on land only to trade or get supplies to build boats and construct homes on stilts, like the one shown here. And because they're born, live, and die at sea, the Bajau are stateless--they have no citizenship. It's unclear how many sea gypsies remain, but experts say their numbers are dwindling. Some are leaving their tribes because of regional instability, including the rise of Islamic extremism, which has made life at sea dangerous. Others seek better opportunities on land because overfishing has made it harder to survive on fish. Says photographer Mark Lehn, who has documented the Bajau Laut: "There are also outside pressures for cultural assimilation and modernization, presenting more reasons for many of the local sea gypsies to...