Braamspunt is used by a group of fishermen, most illegal, as their base for fishing activities (among other things), and they have set up camps there to live. These camps are moved around as wave action shifts the beach. Although most camps used to be at the far end of the sand spit protruding into the Suriname River, in the past year many of the camps have been moved to the east as a result of waves washing away the sand. The high tide floods camps on the sand spit, and, as it goes out, takes most of the inhabitants' belongings and sometimes even the whole camp.
Life on Braamspunt is not easy, with neither electricity nor running water. During daytime the sun can be burning hot and when the night falls, mosquitoes and gnats rule the beach... Still, through various methods, creativity and traditional knowledge, the people have found ways to survive with very little. The majority of the camps are nothing more than rickety structures made out of zinc roofing material and mangrove wood. Towards the eastern side of the beach you may find people living in boats and in more permanent wooden houses.
Fresh water is caught from the rain or bought in the city, and people burn pieces of driftwood to do their cooking. When you live so close to the sea, you always have the freshest fish on your menu! That's also the main food source (and source of income) for the people living on Braamspunt: fish, shrimps and crabs. Unfortunately, among them are people who harvest sea turtle eggs and hunt manatees and scarlet ibises...
