Liz Wren, Director, Indigenous Partnerships John Tapim, Manager, Indigenous Partnerships

1. 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

2. The Great Barrier Reef

3. 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 Cairns Townsville Mackay Rockhampton

4. Legislation A Strong Legislative Backing

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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 Parksand 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

8. 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

9. Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreement: On Country Activities

10. Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreement: On Country Activities Place piccies only

11. TUMRAs 2008 • 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 2009 PulPul Development Yuku-Baja-Muliku Assessment Lama Lama Assessment 2008 Yirrganydji Development 2005 2007 2011

12. Governance

13. Leadership Development

14. Fishing, Collecting, Hunting

15. Looking After Cultural and Heritage Sites

16. Cultural Mapping

17. Transfer of Traditional Ecological Knowledge

18. Enhanced Compliance

19. Education

20. Training

21. Research and Monitoring

22. Habitat Protection

23. Species Protection

24. Water Quality and Catchment Management

25. Western Science & TEK

26. Just Being On Country

27. 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

28. 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

29. 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)

30. Thank YouQuestions Thankyou – Questions?

31. 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