Fishing has been an integral part of the cultural and economic life of coastal and inland Aboriginal communities since they have been in this land. Fishing has been an important source of food, a basis for trade and an important part of cultural and ceremonial life.
Traditionally, Aboriginal fishers had responsibility for providing not just for themselves but for family and community. These cultural expectations continue in Aboriginal communities today. The strategy seeks to protect and enhance the traditional cultural fishing activities of Aboriginal communities, and ensure Aboriginal involvement in the stewardship of fisheries resources.
This strategy acknowledges the concerns and interests of other stakeholders in the fisheries of NSW, all of whom want to enjoy the resource, benefit from it, and ensure its long term sustainability
An underlying theme in consultations about this strategy was the desire to preserve fisheries for the future. This is the point at which the interests of the Aboriginal communities and the broader Australian community intersect.
There are some issues which can be addressed immediately by this strategy. Others will only be resolved after lengthy negotiation involving Aboriginal communities, the broader community, fishing groups and government agencies. The strategy will put in place a process which will ensure discussion and negotiation can continue with progressive resolution of problems and challenges.
The Indigenous Fisheries Strategy is based on four "key platforms" which the NSW Aboriginal Land Council has stated must be central to future NSW Fisheries planning.
Over several years, NSW Fisheries' consultation has gathered the views of Aboriginal communities on the best approach to an Indigenous fisheries strategy. The consultation has also clarified the views of other interest groups such as conservationists, commercial fishers, recreational fishers and the broader community. The strategy seeks to ensure Aboriginal access for both cultural and economic activities, while acknowledging the broader community will have ongoing access to fisheries resources.
The NSW Indigenous Fisheries Strategy will:
In implementing the strategy 2002 - 2004 NSW Fisheries will:
Each of these strategies will be advanced by NSW Fisheries with advice from the Indigenous Fisheries Working Group.
Building Respect for Aboriginal Tradition and Culture:
The plan has 4 key result areas:
Key Result Area 1: Building respect for Aboriginal tradition and culture.
Goal: To ensure the knowledge and views of Indigenous communities are understood, respected and considered in fishery and marine park planning.
Key Result Area 2: Engaging Aboriginal Communities in Fisheries Resource Management.
Goal: To involve Aboriginal communities in fishery and marine park management.
Key Result Area 3: Social and Economic Development.
Goal: To encourage Aboriginal community involvement in commercial opportunities associated with our fisheries resources.
Key Result Area 4: Indigenous Employment Opportunities.
Goal: To promote opportunities for Aboriginal employment and training in NSW Fisheries and in resource management, aquaculture and commercial fishing.
Goal: To ensure the knowledge and views of Indigenous communities are understood, respected and considered in fishery and marine park planning in NSW
Issues |
Proposed Action |
Immediate Priority Tasks (Completed by June 2003) |
Further Tasks (Completed by June 2004) |
---|---|---|---|
Indigenous involvement in management |
Create a 2 year Project Manager position to support the Indigenous Fisheries Working Group (IFWG) and negotiate with Aboriginal communities Create an Indigenous Fisheries Officer position to work with indigenous communities and inside the Department to implement culturally appropriate fishery resource management and compliance processes |
Officer employed by November 2002 Officer employed by March 2003 |
Evaluate impact of position's establishment |
Local input to fishery management strategies |
Develop and facilitate a model for community input to fishery management planning and progressive involvement in fishery management strategies |
Communities identify and document priorities Communities involved in development and implementation of fishery management strategies |
Model completed |
Cultural awareness training |
Develop a training module for cultural awareness training for NSW Fisheries staff Organise for identified staff to complete module over 2 year period Offer cultural awareness seminars for advisory committees and promote cultural awareness more broadly |
Module developed and 80 identified staff complete training One pilot training session |
160 staff complete training Cultural awareness training included in NSW Fisheries induction process Cultural knowledge module developed, accredited and available Training available to all committees |
Access to fisheries for cultural and ceremonial reasons |
Review current Indigenous cultural access to fisheries, review options with IFWG and prepare advice after reviewing input from communities |
Initial report prepared by December 2003 |
Goal: To involve Aboriginal communities in fishery and marine park management
Issues |
Proposed Action |
Immediate Priority Tasks (completed by June 2003) |
Further Tasks (completed by June 2004) |
---|---|---|---|
Consultation and Negotiation |
Appoint Interim Indigenous Fisheries Working Group to advise on finalisation of strategy and future membership Appoint Indigenous Fisheries Working Group (IFWG) to advise on implementation of strategy |
IFWG constituted |
|
Community involvement in management |
With advice from IFWG identify people to represent communities Progressively identify key planning issues for communities Consult on Indigenous issues regarding fisheries management and marine park planning |
Register established Each advisory body to report on issues as appropriate |
|
Compliance |
Implement youth conferencing and warning scheme for young offenders Consult with IFWG on fisheries compliance after Indigenous Fisheries Officers in place |
Develop and implement scheme in consultation with relevant Government agencies and IFWG Interim report complete |
Report prepared with IFWG that includes operational proposals for the Director |
Goal: To encourage Aboriginal community involvement in commercial opportunities associated with our fisheries resources
Issues |
Proposed Action |
Immediate Priority Tasks (completed by June 2003) |
Further Tasks (completed by June 2004) |
---|---|---|---|
Scoping workshops |
Publicise and promote workshops to scope aquaculture opportunities in communities |
Workshop approach agreed Workshops offered in interested communities |
Ongoing |
Evaluation studies |
Fund appropriate feasibility studies in areas where communities are committed to aquaculture |
Feasibility studies funded |
Ongoing |
Referral protocols agreed with regional development agencies |
Develop protocols for involving specialist Aboriginal agencies or NSW economic development agencies in working with communities on aquaculture and other commercial ventures |
Agreements in place |
|
Aquaculture hatchery |
Identify and formalise community partnership model for an aquaculture hatchery on the coast |
Proposal from NSW Fisheries discussed with IFWG Develop appropriate agreement with selected communities |
|
Training |
Negotiate with TAFE and/or other training organisations to partner with Fisheries in delivering an aquaculture management program for Indigenous people |
Program developed Training begins |
Training available in three regional locations |
Extension services |
Implement business development and extension services for Indigenous people in aquaculture |
Program developed |
Review of program undertaken |
Value adding initiatives |
Consult Indigenous commercial fishers to identify value adding opportunities |
Opportunities identified by December 2003 |
New programs progressed where opportunities identified |
Indigenous commercial fishers |
Project Manager to identify strategies to maintain levels of Indigenous involvement in commercial fishing. |
Initial report prepared |
Final report prepared for Director-General. |
Goal: To promote opportunities for Aboriginal employment and training in NSW Fisheries and in resource management, aquaculture and commercial fishing
Issues |
Proposed Action |
Immediate Priority Tasks (completed by June 2003) |
Further Tasks (completed by June 2004) |
---|---|---|---|
Employment strategy |
Develop an employment strategy for NSW Fisheries in consultation with Indigenous Fisheries Working Group (IFWG), including consideration of part time employment |
Report prepared |
|
Natural resource agency employment |
Initiate/facilitate a workshop with natural resource agencies and Aboriginal representative agencies on a joint approach to employment in the sector |
Report prepared and proposals with government for joint approach |
|
Aquaculture sites |
Develop a framework for Aboriginal communities to access and use land they own, for coastal aquaculture operations, including assisting with business plans and to locate capital. |
Develop framework |
|
Skills identification |
Review aquaculture and commercial fishing opportunities, consult with IFWG and prepare advice to communities on the skills required to sustain these businesses |
Develop paper for IFWG |
Long term training plan formulated by June 2004 |