The Lenj boats which are used for trading, fishing and pearl-diving are built using traditional craft skills and are sailed through the application of traditional knowledge and know-how. In addition, there are a number of ceremonies and customs associated with sailing Lenjes, such as traditional sailor songs, the Fisherman’s New Year and the Shushi (a traditional performing art symbolizing the sailors’ respect for nature) which forms part of that event. Most of the population of the northern Persian Gulf earn their living from the sea. The Lenj element is, therefore, an identity-marker for the local people that gives them pride, and ensures a cohesive social order that preserves peaceful co-existence among their communities.
Effectiveness of the safeguarding plan. The raising of awareness among communities and the wider society on the value and significance of the Lenj element has provided bearers with a sense of pride in their element, a feeling of being respected, and encouraged them and other local communities, groups and individuals to make efforts for its protection. Safeguarding activities are divided into five main categories as follows: i) identification, classification and documentation: using a field survey of the current state of the Lenj element and all its associated aspects; ii) awareness-raising: organizing local performances and enactments of all aspects of the Lenj, including short sea journeys and customs and rituals; iii) capacity-building training: a number of Lenj builders/repairers and experienced captains have been employed to transmit their knowledge, skills and know-how to young people, many of whom are university graduates in engineering, mechanics and industrial design; iv) a database: created by the Research Centre, it lists books, journals, magazines and multimedia on research by universities, other institutions and individuals providing a scientific basis for combining traditional and modern methods of sailing and navigation; v) revitalisation projects including documentaries and other actions to attract young people to the element. Although the traditional knowledge, rituals, festive events, oral culture and performances associated with the Lenj have generally been revived, only a few remaining Lenj building workshops have been restored and no new workshops have been built.
In addition to these safeguarding activities, the report mentions the important effort that has been made to improve the financial situation of bearers. Since 2012, younger captains and sailors have been encouraged to take out private insurance on the basis of arrangements negotiated on their behalf. From 2013, free or low-interest loans have been made available by the Ministry of Constructive Jihad, the main authority for fisheries in Iran, and some provisions concerning bearer pensions have also been adopted.
Community participation. Since inscription, bearers and local communities have become very active in safeguarding the element, presenting some of their own initiatives, collaborating with researchers (e.g. in data collection) and training apprentices. Some urban dwellers (mostly from bearer families) have provided coastal properties to serve as Lenj workshops and the Ebrahimi family gave over their house to be the Research Centre. Two professors of sociology and anthropology have voluntarily assisted in documentation and teaching locals at the Research Centre and several academic experts have organized workshops in maritime law. The report was prepared under the overall direction of the Iranian Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organisation operating through its provincial branches. The Research Centre was also directly involved and this helped to bring in local communities who provided documents, photos, videos and other information.
- Viability and current risks__. Building and sailing traditional Lenj boats does show signs of revitalization but the element faces a number of serious threats at the same time. The community of practitioners is very small and generally composed of elderly people who are currently not being substituted by the younger generation. In addition, traditional wooden boats are being replaced by the modern fibreglass variety and the traditional know-how required for building them is being lost as a consequence. It is reported that Lenj boat builders have no trade union, work for only 10 days per month and receive low wages. As a result, young people are not motivated to take up the profession. Knowledge on navigation and sailing Lenjes using for example, a traditional compass, is also being eroded by the accessibility of weather forecast broadcasting and modern GPS technology. Young people, however, are still being trained in the traditional methods by captains and combine both modern and traditional methods.