The recent passage of the Fisheries Management Amendment (Aboriginal Fishing) Bill 2017 allows the NSW Government’s Aboriginal Fishing Trust Fund to support Aboriginal cultural fishers and facilitate economic development through grants and loans. 

But NSW Aboriginal Fishing Rights Group spokesman Wally Stewart, of Narooma, said what was really needed was for the NSW Government to stop prosecuting Indigenous people for harvesting resources such as abalone.

Instead he said individuals should be issued fishing licences and quotas.  

“We’re happy they’ve taken us on board, but we have a new opportunity to become part of the fishing industry, and this will create employment and empowerment for our people along the coast,” Mr Stewart said.

The group was frustrated the NSW Government had still not taken into account the Native Title Act of 1993 that stated Aboriginal people had a right to harvest the ocean’s resources.

The group was hoping current abalone cases involving Indigenous people before the courts could become test cases, setting precedents to allow them to harvest abalone on a commercial basis.

Regarding the view that Aboriginal people were harming abalone stocks, he said the commercial abalone industry was allowed to take 130 tonne a year, while Aboriginal people took about three tonne a year, legally or illegally, and only from shore without boats or diving equipment.

“We know about sustainability and have been looking after this coast forever,” Mr Stewart said.

This latest news about the NSW Bill comes on top of Federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs Nigel Scullion in June announcing a $5 million grant to the NSWALC for the purchase of fishing licences in saltwater and freshwater areas of New South Wales.

The NSW Government has announced a $1.5 million Aboriginal Fishing Trust Fund over three years. 

The NSW Aboriginal Fishing Rights Group has started a petition calling on the NSW Government not to prosecute South Coast Aboriginal fishers until the South Coast Native Title Claim has been determined.

The NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) has also welcomed the NSW Government’s commitment to improve legislation on Aboriginal cultural fishing and economic development. 

NSWALC Chair Roy Ah-See said the passage of the Fisheries Management Amendment (Aboriginal Fishing) Bill 2017 was an important step forward in delivering on the cultural and economic needs of Aboriginal peoples.

The legislation allows the NSW Government’s Aboriginal Fishing Trust Fund to support Aboriginal cultural fishers and facilitate economic development through grants and loans.

“For Aboriginal peoples, cultural fishing is about feeding our families and communities and also provides economic opportunities in the fishing industry,” Mr Ah-See said.

He thanked the Minister for Primary Industries Niall Blair and his department for taking into consideration concerns jointly put forward by the NSWALC and the Native Title service provider NTSCORP.

“Throughout the development of this Bill, both the NSW Aboriginal Land Council and NTSCORP raised concerns about resourcing, decision-making and access for Aboriginal businesses,” Mr Ah-See said.

“The Minister and his Department listened to our concerns and we are pleased that they have been addressed through commitments and clarifications in the Minister’s Second Reading speech.

“The NSW Aboriginal Land Council seeks to ensure that the Aboriginal Fishing Trust Fund creates more opportunities for Aboriginal peoples to practice cultural fishing and participate in the State economy.

“We look forward to working with Government to develop additional mechanisms to resource and support Aboriginal cultural fishers and Aboriginal commercial opportunities in the fishing industry.

“We understand that applications to the NSW Government’s Aboriginal Fishing Trust Fund will open shortly.”

More information about the Fund is available at https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/aboriginal-fishing/AFTF