It comes after the NSW Aboriginal Fishing Rights Group held a protest and cultural gathering at Barlings Beach  on Australia Day, to protest against what they said was the lack of recognition of indigenous fishing rights and the closure of beaches to netting on public holidays.

A spokeswoman from DPI, said cultural fishing was a recognised activity supported by legislation.

She did not say whether DPI had been in contact with the NSW Aboriginal Fishing Rights Group since the Australia Day event, but said that Aboriginal fishing events would be accommodated by the DPI.

“The significance of fisheries resources to Aboriginal people and the commitment to protect and promote ongoing access to the resource for cultural fishing purposes is recognised as part of the overall management of fisheries resources,” she said.

“Cultural fishing events are accommodated under existing arrangements.”

Walbunga fisherman John Brierley, one of the organisers of last Monday’s protest, said the NSW Aboriginal Fishing Rights Group had not had any contact from the DPI on the day or since.

“No, I haven’t heard from them,” he said.

“They won’t turn up to functions like that, but if I am by myself catching a feed for my Mum, they will arrest me.” 

Batemans Bay’s Danny Chapman is the DPI’s Aboriginal Fishing Advisory Council chairman and its representative on the Far South Coast, but was not critical of the Australia Day protest.

“Even though I work for the government, I am happy to see our mob get together for a peaceful event on Survival Day,” he said.

“It was really a cry for help for adequate protection of fishing rights, and to stop the prosecutions.

“The DPI is working hard with different stakeholders in order to get legislation to protect Aboriginal cultural fishing rights.

“The difficulty is that the fish stocks are pretty close to being over-exploited, and as we are dealing with a finite resource, some will have to give up their normal catch to gain protection for those resources.”