PATORANI: OCCULTNESS, RELIGIOSITY, AND ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY TECHNOLOGY OF THE FLYING FISH HUNTERS

Abstract

The term “Patorani†refers to a person who works to catch flying fish. This activity is still mostly done by fishermen in South Sulawesi. In the activity of catching flying fish, there are a number of things that work outside of human rationality wrapped with religious understanding by using simple technology that is environmentally friendly. Departing from that premise, this paper intends to reveal various occult and religiosity in catching flying fish. The method used to reveal patorani activity is ethnography through in-depth discussion with patorani fishermen. This research was conducted in Galesong sub district of Takalar regency. The results show that the world of fly fishing is full of mysticism and is influenced by the religious ideology of patorani. It is argued that it would be anachronistic if patorani fishermen practicing centuries old methods were seen as an act of "environmental destruction". The heart of the problem is not in catching the flying fish, but in its patorani culture (magic, religiosity, and technology) that keeps their activities in a controlled environment, a culture that is proven to be sustainable even though the blue revolution and world markets demand shakes it.