Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreements (TUMRA) describe how Traditional Owner groups work with Australian and Queensland State Governments to manage traditional use activities in sea country. 

A TUMRA may describe, for example, how Traditional Owner groups wish to manage their take of natural resources (including protected species), 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.

A TUMRA implementation plan may describe ways to educate the public about traditional connections to sea country areas, and to educate other members of a Traditional Owner group about the conditions of the TUMRA.

TUMRA are formal agreements developed by Traditional Owner groups and accredited by the GBRMPA and the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM). Each TUMRA operates for a set time after which it is renegotiated.

There are currently five TUMRA regions in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

Girringun Region TUMRA

The Girringun region Traditional Owners were the first Traditional Owners in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park to develop an accredited TUMRA. The agreement was endorsed by the six Girringun Aboriginal Corporation sea country groups: Djiru, Gulnay, Girramay, Bandjin, Warragamay and Nywaigi.

The Girringun Aboriginal Corporation has now developed its third TUMRA which was accredited by the Australian and Queensland Governments in December 2010. This TUMRA builds upon their first (2005) and second (2008) TUMRAs and applies to sea country between Rollingstone and Mission Beach.

View map of Girringun Region TUMRA

Dharumbal TUMRA – Woppaburra Section

In June 2007, the first Dharumbal TUMRA-Woppaburra Section was accredited, followed by a second TUMRA which was accredited in September 2010. The TUMRA recognises that the Woppaburra Traditional Owners, the GBRMPA and the Queensland Government are willing to work together to share responsibility for managing the traditional use of marine resources and associated sea country issues for the Keppel Islands region.

View map of Dharumbal TUMRA – Woppaburra Section

Mamu Region TUMRA

Accredited in June 2008, the Mamu Region TUMRA applies to the Innisfail area in north Queensland and details traditional management arrangements including the sustainable take of traditional resources. Mamu Traditional Owners have an ongoing involvement in the cultural heritage and management of their sea country. To fulfil their responsibilities as custodians of their sea areas the Mamu Traditional Owners aim to partner with Government agencies in monitoring, and in Indigenous Sea Ranger Programs.

View map of Mamu Region TUMRA

Wuthathi Region TUMRA

The Wuthathi people are the traditional owners for the Shelburne Bay area of Cape York and their TUMRA, accredited in June 2008, covers their traditional sea country area. The Wuthathi Traditional Owners have a clear vision for managing their sea country and their TUMRA forms an integral part of this.

View map of Wuthathi Region TUMRA

The GBRMPA is assisting the Girringun, Dharumbal, Mamu and Wuthathi Traditional Owners to implement their agreements.

Port Curtis Coral Coast (PCCC) Regional TUMRA

Accredited in August 2011, the PCCC Regional TUMRA is the fifth and largest agreement of its kind.  It covers an area almost ten times the size of Canberra and the Australian Capital Territory or 26,386km2. The TUMRA area extends from Burrum Heads, south of Bundaberg, to – and including Curtis Island off Gladstone.

Under the agreement Port Curtis Coral Coast Traditional Owner groups, which include Gooreng Gooreng, Gurang, Bailai and Tarebilang Bunda, are committed to initiating management strategies that will positively impact their sea country.

View map of PCCC TUMRA Region

Indigenous Land Use Agreements

Indigenous Land Use Agreements (ILUAs) are agreements about the use and management of land and waters that are made between one or more native title groups and other people or parties. The Australian Government through the GBRMPA is a party to the Kuuku Ya'u People's ILUA, with implementation managed in the same way as a TUMRA. The Kuuku Ya'u Agreement is the first Marine Park ILUA. It recognises Traditional Owner native title rights and interests in the management of nearly 2000 square kilometres of sea within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, in an area north of Lockhart River.