1. The Evolution of Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreements
Liz Wren, Director, Indigenous Partnerships
John Tapim, Manager, Indigenous Partnerships
We acknowledge the Larrakia Peoples as the Traditional Owners of the Country where we are meeting today and thank them for their warm welcome to Country. We also pay our respects to our elders past and present, and also extend that respect to all of the visiting Indigenous peoples from around the world. With such an interesting program, I thank you all for attending our presentation on the Evolution of Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreements.
Outline of Presentation:
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA)
Traditional Use of Marine Resource Agreements (TUMRAs)
Evolution of TUMRAs
World Indigenous Network Conference
Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
27 May 2013

2. The Great Barrier Reef The Great Barrier Reef
First for some context about the Reef itself and it’s environmental, social and economic values
The Great Barrier Reef:
is more than 2000 km long, up to 250 km wide
includes over 2900 reefs and 900 island and cays
similar in size to Victoria and Tasmania combined
one of Australia’s most treasured natural wonders
is internationally renowned for its outstanding biodiversity and beauty
It’s a multiple-use area that supports a range of activities and industries e.g. tourism, fishing, boating, shipping
Adjacent catchments support many communities and diverse industries that generate billions of dollars annually
Its health is directly affected by land and near-shore activities
These activities impact on estuaries, seagrass meadows, catchments and coastal systems
The region is critical to the economic and social wellbeing of more than one million Australians

3. Townsville
Cairns
Mackay
Rockhampton
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
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

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
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 tribal 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
Recognizing prior ownership - native title rights and interests, native title notification processes
Protecting cultural heritage and Indigenous values – including Reviving and exercising cultural authority
Acknowledging traditional ecological knowledge and its role in Marine Park management
Lack of respect and understanding in the wider community about Traditional Owner connection to country
Conservation of significant marine species and their habitats
Commercial: opportunities and management - Enhancing economic independence through commercial opportunities
Funding - Appropriate funding for natural resource management
Increasing industry - port expansion, shipping, oil spills, declining water quality and pollution
Natural and man made impacts - Climate change, extreme weather, coral bleaching, ocean acidification, marine diseases, exotic pests, tourism impacts etc.
Seeking greater roles in sea country management, decision-making, research and information sharing in sea country
Negotiation rather than consultation
And so on….
Managering Traditional Use of Marine Resources – the focus of this presentation is the Evolution of TUMRAs and so now I’ll provide some background information on the development of the TUMRA program before moving onto the evolution of TUMRAs.

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 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
A TUMRA may describe:
How Traditional Owner groups wish to manage the take of turtle and dugong in a sustainable way
Support the compliance activities that form part of the Implementation Plan for the TUMRA
Assist in monitoring the condition of plants and animals, and human activities in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
Provide Government Agencies access to a Traditional Owner resource management framework

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
Traditional Use not treated uniformly throughout the GBR Marine park (e.g. different rules along the coast)
Governments had no appropriate mechanisms for dealing with the right people for the right sea country
Little support for developing Traditional Owner Management Plans
Focus on Governments focused on management of Turtles and Dugongs (and other threatened species) only
Permits for take of threatened species were managed by the government
Reef Wide Framework - In response to Traditional Owner Concerns, a Reef Wide Framework for managing Traditional Use of Marine Resources was developed –
Native Title Representative Bodies - Negotiations commenced in October 2002 with the 5 NTRBs then representing Traditional Owners along the Great Barrier Reef
TUMRAs - were then developed in partnership with the Representative Bodies
The Representative Areas Program – RAP (rezoning of the Marine Park) included TUMRAs in the new Zoning Plan and relevant Regulations in 2003
Girringun TUMRA - Six Saltwater Groups represented by the Girringun Aboriginal Corporation submitted the first TUMRA for State and Commonwealth accreditation in 2005
Focus of Turtle and Dugong - Initial focus was however still largely on the management of threatened species such as turtle and dugong

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 5 TUMRAs accredited (+ 1 Marine ILUA treated as a TUMRA)
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
Pul Pul
Development
2009
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 Notes from LJ
Educating the general public, countrymen and other Indigenous people through art, signage, cultural exchanges and public presence at other events

20. Training

21. Research and Monitoring

22. Habitat Protection Notes from LJ Beach Erosion Control
Revegetation after Cyclone Yasi
Controlled Access
Ghost net clean-ups
Rubbish clean-up with Youth

23. Species Protection Notes from LJ
Bird Surveys and Protection as just one example of other species management

24. Water Quality and Catchment Management
Notes from LJ
Gladstone harbour a WQ hotspot
Managing the catchment creates better water quality on the reef

25. Western Science & TEK Notes from LJ Technology in the Field
Scientists engaging with Traditional Owners
Traditional Owners workshopping their TEK with western scientists

26. Just Being On Country Notes from LJ
For many groups along the Queensland Coast, just being on country is a huge plus following the dislocation of previous times
Getting a visit from a Federal Minister is great too

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 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

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 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. Thankyou – Questions?
Thank You Questions

31. Further Information Liz Wren Director, Indigenous Partnerships Group
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
Direct Phone:
Mobile:
Address: PO Box 1379, Townsville Qld 4810
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