8 February 2011

Traditional Owners have been given extra time to apply for Sea Country Partnerships Grants as they recover from Cyclone Yasi.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) today announced the closing date for applications had been extended from 10 February to 21 February.

The Australian Government's Caring for Our Country Reef Rescue Indigenous Land and Sea Country Partnerships Program has provided $300,000 for the one-off grants program.  

Traditional Owners can access grants of $5,000 to $50,000 to carry out environmental initiatives related to their sea country.

"We want to encourage as many Traditional Owners as possible to apply for the grants," GBRMPA's Director of Indigenous Partnerships Darren Cameron said. "After Cyclone Yasi, we understand they may need extra time to get in their applications."

The Sea Country Partnerships Grants Program was launched in December with the aim of
supporting Traditional Owners interested in undertaking sea country management initiatives to assist the sustainable future of the Great Barrier Reef.

"Traditional Owners have expressed a strong desire for greater involvement in compliance activities to address illegal take through illegal netting and poaching, and the grants program has the capacity to support communities in these activities," Mr Cameron said.  

"Grants could be provided for sea country management initiatives such as research and monitoring of dugong and marine turtles, environmental improvement programs or developing sea country management plans.  

"Through this program the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority is building partnerships between Traditional Owners, Indigenous communities, reef stakeholders and management agencies to protect the Great Barrier Reef." 

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