Australian fisheries groups learn about Maori fishing

An Australian fisheries' delegation is welcomed at Te Matau a Maui Maori Fisheries Conference in Napier this month. Eight representatives of the Northern Territory commercial, recreational and indigenous groups visited New Zealand in late March to learn about Maori fisheries and the possibility of a similar agreement being implemented with Aborigines in Australia. Pictured with the delegation is Ngati Kahungunu chairman Ngahiwi Tomoana, organiser of the Maori Fisheries Conference and his wife, Mere (far right).

The growth and ownership of Maori fisheries has inspired a group of Australian indigenous, recreational and commercial fishing representatives to visit Aotearoa to learn more about our local fisheries management.

The group of eight Australians were urged to visit New Zealand by former Te Ohu Kaimoana policy analyst Sean Kerins, who now works at the Australian National University in Canberra but spent a number of years working for the Northern Land Council (NLC) in Darwin, Northern Territory.

The NLC was established in 1973 following the enactment of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act and is an independent statutory authority responsible for assisting Aboriginal people in the northern region of the Territory to acquire and manage their traditional lands and seas.

Visiting NLC member, Djambawa Murrawuli from Blue Mud Bay in the Northern Territory, said his visit to New Zealand, which was helped through funding assistance from the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC), was inspirational and educational. “This was really good for me to go and watch what Maori are doing. And I have to take this back to my community – how Maori are doing here – and see how this can be implemented for our culture.”

One of the oldest surviving cultures in the world today, Aboriginal people have owned and been sustainably utilising their fisheries and other resources for tens of thousands of years. However, Australian law has never recognised Aboriginal ownership of the ocean and its resources. Now, Aboriginal communities have no say in how these resources are managed nor are their views taken into account when developing policies on future use.

“We've been fishing for a long time and know where to go. It is time for them [white Australians] to know about us and put in place our customs. We have a relationship, you know, there are two people in Australia: aboriginals and white people. We are entitled to what we have there. We are entitled to the land, to many areas. I think it's time for Australian fishermen to understand that we are both living in Australia and living side by side,” he said.

“In all fisheries, commercial and communal fisheries they should be coming and talking to us about management in Australia in the Northern Territory,” Mr Murrawuli said.

Samuel Bush-Blanasi, the deputy chairman of the NLC, told the Maori Fisheries Conference the Blue Mud Bay case was currently before Australia's highest court, the High Court, and could lead the way for recognition and ownership of Aboriginal “sea country”.

“Under traditional law, we have exclusive rights to all of our country – land and sea. Our claim is not merely to be able to go fishing and feed our families or create a stake in the commercial sector. We wish to be recognised as the traditional owners of our sea country.”

He said that Blue Mud Bay was used in the commercial industry for prawn, mud crab, pearling, barramundi, trepang and mackerel and by reef fishers.

Sean Kerins said that Aboriginal communities and iwi face similar issues over tribal governance and management, as well as wider policy issues such as contributing to fisheries management with local and traditional knowledge.

“It's been very good for all of the Australian delegation to see how Maori have been able to increase their ownership and use of New Zealand fisheries, and how they can use the New Zealand case of working cooperatively together.”

The Australian delegation attend the 3rd annual Maori Fisheries Conference Te Matau a Maui in Napier in early April and spent time in Wellington meeting with Aotearoa Fisheries Limited and Te Ohu Kaimoana. The delegation was also hosted by Prepared Foods Limited, Ngati Porou, Ngati Kahungunu, the NZ Seafood Council and the Ministry of Fisheries.

 

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