SOUTH COAST Indigenous clans are calling on Fisheries NSW to recognise Aboriginal cultural fishing as its own industry and allow traditional owners to earn a living from their catches.
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The call comes as work has “significantly progressed” towards regulating cultural fishing in NSW - a document in the making since changes to the Fisheries Management Act were passed in 2009.
A meeting of South Coast Aboriginal clans of the Yuin nation last month in Wollongong, organised by the Illawarra Land Council and attended by Fisheries NSW, called on the regulation to go further.
Narooma’s Wally Stewart attended and said traditional owners would be happy to negotiate cultural catch bag limits if Fisheries would negotiate how cultural fishers could operate as a commercial industry.
“We should be able to go in and get a culture catch and sell a part of that to live ... to get income,” Mr Stewart said.
“We used to barter and trade with our resources.
“That’s what we are hoping to come out of this (regulation); that we can sit down at the table one day, but Fisheries just don’t budge.”
Mr Stewart forecast benefits for all.
“If they brought it into a commercial industry, they would know exactly what’s coming out of the water, they’d know where it’s coming from, and we can work together in looking after our resources,” he said.
“That would save a lot of our problems on the South Coast.”
Mr Stewart said Aboriginal people were angry with Fisheries for locking up young fishermen for cultural fishing, which had been practised for thousands of years.
“They try and make out we’re the ones doing all the damage to the industry,” Mr Stewart said.
“It’s not us - we’re not the ones raping the ocean - it’s them.
“They give (commercial) licenses to go and rape 330 tonnes a year of abalone.
“As far as we’re concerned, they’re the poachers and Fisheries legalises it.
“We just want a fair go.
“They were our resources first.”
Aboriginal Fishing Advisory Council member Danny Chapman is working with the Department of Primary Industries on the regulation.
While he was pleased there was progress, he said the regulation would not include economic activities.
“Cultural recognition will allow people to go out and catch a feed and it will allow those people to go out and catch a feed for people that can’t fish,” Mr Chapman said.
“As I understand it, the meeting in Wollongong asked for Aboriginal people to gain licenses and get back in the fishing industry.
“That won’t be included in the regulation to protect cultural fishing.
“It’s taken us four to five years to get this regulation - lord knows how long it will take to consider this (as well).”
Mr Chapman hoped the council would see the draft regulation next month.
“We’re not sure whether the regulation will satisfy the needs of Aboriginal people, but we will get a look in the near future,” he said.
“As I understand it, the regulation will be sent to communities to ask their opinions.”
A DPI spokeswoman would not say if recognising cultural fishing as an industry would be considered.
“The current focus is getting the cultural fishing regulation in place to protect and promote cultural fishing access,” she said.
