Technical Information Sheet #28

Published 2002

This page contains background and history of the Representative Areas Program.

• View current Zoning information.

Indigenous Use of Marine Resources in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park

This information sheet outlines the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s (GBRMPA) proposed framework for managing Indigenous, Traditional and Customary Use of Marine Resources within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (the Marine Park).

The GBRMPA supports traditional use of the Marine Park and recognises its important role within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander tradition and custom.  The GBRMPA understands the need to actively engage with Traditional Owners to develop effective cooperative management arrangements for a range of Marine Park issues.

In addition, a primary consideration in the Marine Park is the conservation of species and their habitats. This is particularly important since many species such as green turtles and dugongs, which are an important part of Indigenous culture, are showing signs of being ‘vulnerable’, possibly to extinction if all human-related mortality issues are not addressed.   

Elderly Indigenous people often say that the Great Barrier Reef is different from when they were younger and that there are now fewer dugongs and green turtles. This decline in numbers is supported by scientific studies. Scientists conclude that urgent measures must be taken to stabilise numbers and to reverse the decline for future generations.  All human-related mortality issues must be addressed to ensure dugongs and green turtles remain an integral part of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander tradition and custom as well as recognised World Heritage values of the Great Barrier Reef.

Proposed Management Framework for Indigenous (Traditional) Use of Marine Resources

A new system for managing traditional use of marine resources in the Marine Park will be implemented through the new Zoning Plan.  Some traditional use of marine resources will continue to be ‘as of right’.  Other traditional use of marine resource activities will be conducted in accordance with a Traditional Owner-developed and GBRMPA-accredited ‘Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreement’.

Under the proposed management arrangements:

• Traditional Owners will continue to have access to all zones in the Marine Park, according to Aboriginal or Torres Strait  Islander custom or tradition, for activities not involving the take of animals, plants or marine products;
• Traditional fishing and collecting can be conducted ‘as of right’ (without a permit) in those zones which generally allow for fishing and collecting;
• Traditional hunting of dugong and turtle, and other traditional use that would not be an ‘as of right’ activity, will be managed through Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreements;
• Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreements will be developed between the Traditional Owner groups and the GBRMPA for cooperatively managing a wide range of ‘sea country’ issues.  Guidelines for establishing Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreements (including the contents of such agreements) will be established in consultation with Traditional Owner groups, representative bodies and the Environmental Protection Agency; and
• As a transitional arrangement, the GBRMPA permit system will continue to apply to some traditional use activities whilst Traditional Use of Marine Resource Agreements are being established.

The proposed new system will:

• Provide a sound basis for achieving sustainable levels of harvesting as necessary for species conservation;
• Meet obligations and establish a framework that is consistent with the Native Title Act 1993; and
• Encourage cooperative and culturally appropriate management in the GBRMP.