Liz Wren, Director, Indigenous Partnerships

John Tapim, Manager, Indigenous Partnerships

World Indigenous Network Conference Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia

27 May 2013

The Evolution of Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreements

The Great Barrier Reef

GBRMPA

• Australian Government, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority- Over 150 Staff- Based in Townsville, Queensland

• Regional Offices in Cairns, Mackay and Rockhampton and a Small Parliamentary Liaison Team in Canberra

• Managing the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park- Over 344,000 km2

- Over 2,000 km long

• Indigenous Partnerships currently has 13 Staff based in Townsville and Regional Offices

Townsville

Cairns

Mackay

Rockhampton

Legislation

A Strong Legislative Backing

Traditional Owners

• Over 70 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Traditional Owner Clan groups have connections to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park

• Connections to sea country extend as far offshore as the outer barrier reefs

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clan groups speak over 20 distinct languages

• Maintain a ‘living maritime culture’ through traditional uses, practices and custodianship

Traditional Owner Concerns

• Recognising prior ownership: rights and interests• Protecting cultural heritage values and places• Recognising the importance of traditional

ecological knowledge in Marine Park management• Lack of respect and understanding in the wider

community about Traditional Owner connection to Country

• Conservation of marine species and their habitats • Enhancing economic independence through commercial

opportunities• Managing Traditional Use of Marine Resources

What is a Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreement?

• TUMRA's are formal agreements developed by Traditional Owner groups and accredited by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) and the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS)

• TUMRA's describe how Traditional Owner groups work with government to manage sea country including traditional use activities

Agreement between GBR

Traditional Owners

What is Traditional Use of Marine Resources?

Undertaking of activities as part of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's customs or traditions, for the purposes of satisfying personal, domestic or communal needs and may include:• Fishing • Collecting (e.g. shellfish)• Hunting• Looking after cultural

and heritage sites• Transfer of traditional

ecological knowledge

Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreement: On Country Activities

Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreement: On Country Activities

Place piccies only

TUMRAs

• 5 TUMRAs accredited(+ 1 Marine ILUA treated as a TUMRA)

• 14 Traditional Owner groups covered

• 21.55% of coastline in GBR covered

• 42,860km2 sea country area managed

• 17.97% of marine park• 2 TUMRAs currently being

assessed for accreditation• 2 TUMRAs close to

submission for accreditation

Lama Lama Assessment

Pul PulDevelopment

Yuku-Baja-Muliku Assessment

Yirrganydji Development

2011

2007

2008

2005

2009

2008

Governance

Leadership Development

Fishing, Collecting, Hunting

Looking After Cultural and Heritage Sites

Cultural Mapping

Transfer of Traditional Ecological Knowledge

Enhanced Compliance

Education

Training

Research and Monitoring

Habitat Protection

Species Protection

Water Quality and Catchment Management

Western Science & TEK

Just Being On Country

The Next 5 Years: Management

TUMRA - A Strong Focus• Saltwater groups will have access to developing Traditional

Use of Marine Resources Agreements to articulate comprehensive management of sea country (including a strong sustainable future for turtle, dugong and sea country)

• Empower Traditional Authority, particularly aroundsustainable use of turtle and dugong

• Increase human and institutional capacity of saltwater Traditional Owner groups to implement their TUMRAs

• Implement sea country management plans, that identify rules and management for sea country (this will require significant coordination through the Working on Country Program to invest in TUMRA on-country activities)

• Provide environmental services in the national interest through inshore biodiversity marine monitoring program, particularly focused on matters of national environmental significance under the EPBC Act

The Next 5 Years: Management

Enhanced Compliance• Compliance Plans developed in

partnership with each TUMRA detailing cultural authority over sustainable use and other sea country matters - articulate s.211 under Native Title as guided by s.223 (expression of rights and interests over land and water = lore)

• Joint Patrols for Indigenous Rangers (plus Elders and Youth)

• Maintain Indigenous Community Compliance Liaison Officers to deliver the Indigenous Community Compliance Program

• All Great Barrier Reef Marine Park management areas serviced by the Indigenous Community Compliance Program

The Next 5 Years – A Strategic Approach

A strong focus on TUMRAs as our future strategic direction that will be inclusive of:• Biodiversity priorities (species/habitats for inshore biodiversity)• Matters of National Environmental Significance• Cultural Heritage (World Heritage – Outstanding Universal Value)

Collaborating with partner programs ‘Indigenous Protected Areas’ and ‘Working on Country’ to provide environmental services in the national interest

Developing a strong positioning for the Australian Government to implement the work program of:• The Convention of Biological Diversity (particularly articles 8(j) and

10(c)), and relevant Aichi Biodiversity Targets• The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and

Ecosystem Services (IPBES)

Thankyou – Questions?

Thank YouQuestions

Further InformationLiz Wren

Director, Indigenous Partnerships GroupGreat Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

Direct Phone: 07 4750 0611Mobile: 0418 676 425

Email: liz.wren@gbrmpa.gov.auAddress: PO Box 1379, Townsville Qld 4810

Visit us at: www.gbrmpa.gov.au