Sustainable traditional use of marine resources

Traditional use of marine resources is the undertaking of activities as part of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's customs or traditions, for the purpose of satisfying personal, domestic or communal needs.

Traditional use of marine resources activities may include:

• Fishing
• Collecting (for example shellfish)
• Hunting
• Looking after cultural and heritage sites.
  

Many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders undertake traditional use of marine resources activities to:

• Educate younger generations about traditional and cultural rules, protocols and activities in sea country
• Practice their living maritime culture
• Provide traditional food for families.
  

Traditional use activities in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park are managed under the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975, and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Regulations 1983. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Zoning Plan 2003 recognises that under section 211 of the Native Title Act 1993, native title holders may undertake traditional use of marine resources in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreements

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authoritiy's Indigenous Partnerships Liaison Unit is working in partnership with Traditional Owner groups along the Great Barrier Reef to assist with the development and implementation of Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreements (TUMRAs).

TUMRAs are formal agreements developed by Traditional Owner groups and accredited by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). TUMRAs describe how Traditional Owner groups work with government to manage traditional use activities in sea country. A TUMRA may describe, for example, how Traditional Owner groups wish to limit their take of turtle and dugong, their role in compliance and their role in monitoring the condition of plants and animals, and human activities in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The TUMRA implementation plan may describe ways to educate the public about traditional connections to sea country, and to educate other members of a Traditional Owner group about the conditions of the TUMRA.  

By working together to develop and implement a TUMRA, Traditional Owner groups are able to better achieve their aims for managing their sea country in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and may access government services and resources to help.  

In December 2005, the Girringun Region TUMRA was the first to be accredited by the Australian and Queensland State Governments. It was developed by the six Girringun sea country groups: Djiru, Gulnay, Girramay, Bandjin, Warragamay and Nywaigi. The TUMRA applies to sea country between Rollingstone and Mission Beach.

View map of Girringun TUMRA area [ Adobe Acrobat 793KB]

On 22 June 2007 the Dharumbal TUMRA-Woppaburra Section was accredited.  It recognises that the Woppaburra Traditional Owners, the GBRMPA and the Queensland Government are willing to work together and share responsibility for managing the traditional use of marine resources and associated sea country issues for the Keppel Islands region.

View map of Dharumbal/Woppaburra TUMRA area [ Adobe Acrobat 975KB]

The GBRMPA is assisting Girringun and Woppaburra with the implementation of their agreements, and are presently working with other Traditional Owner groups, particularly in the Innisfail and the Cape Grenville regions, to help with the development of TUMRAs.

The GBRMPA, in conjunction with the Environmental Protection Agency, have developed a TUMRA workbook in order to provide further information and guide Traditional Owners in the development of their own TUMRA.

Related Links

• Girringun Aboriginal Corporation
  
• Learn more about the Traditional Owners of the Great Barrier Reef on ReefEd
• A Reef-wide framework for managing traditional use of marine resources in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park  [Acrobat Format 368KB]