The Evolution of Traditional Use of
Marine Resources Agreements
Liz Wren, Director, Indigenous Partnerships
John Tapim, Manager, Indigenous Partnerships
World Indigenous Network Conference
Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
27 May 2013
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
Cairns
Townsville
Mackay
Rockhampton
•
Indigenous Partnerships currently
has 13 Staff based in Townsville
and Regional Offices
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
•
42,860km sea country area
managed
2008
Pul Pul
Development
Lama Lama
Assessment
2009
Yuku-Baja-Muliku
Assessment
2008
Yirrganydji
Development
2005
2
•
17.97% of marine park
•
2 TUMRAs currently being
assessed for accreditation
•
2 TUMRAs close to
submission for accreditation
2007
2011
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 around
sustainable 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 You
Questions
Further Information
Liz Wren
Director, Indigenous Partnerships Group
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
Direct Phone: 07 4750 0611
Mobile: 0418 676 425
Email: liz.wren@gbrmpa.gov.au
Address: PO Box 1379, Townsville Qld 4810
Visit us at: www.gbrmpa.gov.au