58 Indigenous Empowerment in Marine Management
Traditional Custodians in Australia have been conserving and managing Country for tens of thousands of years. Local Indigenous communities have a deep connection to Sea Country and as such should be highly involved in their management. They have up to 65000 years of deep knowledge and as such should be at the heart of marine management initiatives.
Collaborative and Empowering Marine Management
It is essential to work collaboratively with Traditional Owners in sustainable marine management and empower Custodians leadership. The relationship should be reciprocal with open, two-way communication and knowledge sharing. It is important to invest in relationship building over time to build trust and for the process to be truly collaborative.
Example: Sea Country – a Great Southern Reef film exploring Tasmanian Aboriginal connection to kelp forests
Watch the video below to see an example of the deep connection and care of Sea Country by Traditional Owners.
The time for Indigenous Empowerment is now
There are a number of strategies, policies and priorities such as those introduced in Chapter 1 that discuss the imperative need to empower Traditional Owners in management. Victoria’s Marine and Coastal Strategy is used as an example below.
Traditional owner message – Victoria’s Marine and Coastal Strategy
“The time is now – to speak, listen and act with courage; to make decisions together and transparently that are in the interests of our oceans, coastlines, connected landscapes and waterways for generations to follow. We must forge a future together to make things better. The Strategy provides a roadmap for the conversations and transparent decision making Traditional Owners, government and the broader Victorian community need to make together”.
— Traditional Owner Message
Traditional Owners are rights holders in the marine and coastal environment and have a long-held connection to Country. As explained in the Traditional Owner Message above, their rights, views and knowledge have not been appropriately considered in planning and management activities in the marine and coastal environment since colonial settlement.
Traditional Owner management of Country is a time-tested application of knowledge about environmental management. Both access to and management of Country enables self-determination of Aboriginal people and promotes environmental sustainability and connected Country outcomes. Country and Victorians will benefit from the full participation of Traditional Owners in the management of the marine and coastal environment.
A number of local, national and international strategies are bringing Traditional Owners rights and extensive knowledge to the forefront of action plans. The deep connection to Country provides many thousands of years of knowledge and it is acknowledged that Traditional Owners should be an integral part of managing Country. Victoria’s Marine and Coastal Strategy (The State of Victoria Department of Environment., 2022) embeds this in their first action.
Action 1 – Traditional Owners determine how their rights and obligations are embedded into planning and management of the marine and coastal environment
This action aims for the full integration of Traditional Owner values, uses and practices in the rehabilitation and ongoing management of Country. This will enable the continuance of Traditional Owner cultures, knowledge, and practices to heal our coastal and marine environment for current and future generations.
The cultural and human rights of Traditional Owners must be respected. This action and all others in the Strategy aim to support Traditional Owners to determine how their rights and obligations are embedded in planning and management.
Action 1 activities
- Current and future generations of Traditional Owners care for and respect Country through self-determination.
- Traditional Owners are actively engaged and empowered to care for, protect and improve the marine and coastal environment.
- Traditional Owners collaborate to take care of, and deliver integrated and coordinated planning and management of, the marine and coastal environment.
- Cultural values and sites of heritage significance are protected for current and future generations.
- Quality science and knowledge is used to inform evidence-based decision making and to evaluate the effectiveness of decisions.
“Our families have been connected to Victoria’s marine and coastal Country for over 60,000 years. Since colonisation, our Country was unlawfully and unjustly taken from us. Connection to Country is at the core of who we are today, always have been and always will be. Country is who we are and it is home. Country needs our help. Our knowledge systems, and efforts to heal and protect Country in the face of climate change, pollution, and the impacts of poor management practices need to be a priority. There is no time to waste”.
— Traditional Owner Message
Quotes and text from this section is from the “Marine and Coastal Strategy” by © The State of Victoria Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning 2022, which is licensed under CC BY 4.0
Activity: Sea Country Indigenous Protected Area
Go to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water – Sea Country Indigenous Protected Areas program grant page via the link to learn more about 10 Sea Country Indigenous Protected Area projects around Australia.
Consider the following questions:
- What are Sea Country Indigenous Protected Areas?
- Why are they important?
- Are there any in your local area?
Example: Work underway for Tasmania’s first Sea Country Indigenous Protected Area
Watch the video ‘Work underway for Tasmania’s first Sea Country Indigenous Protected Area’ below to learn more about Tasmania’s first Sea Country Indigenous Protected Area.
Example: Traditional Owners Lead Collaborative Marine Management
Watch the video below to see an example of Traditional Owner Marine Management and expansion of Indigenous Protected Area to include 400,000 hectares of Sea Country
References
The State of Victoria Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning. (2022). The Marine and Coastal Strategy. Australian Government. https://www.marineandcoasts.vic.gov.au/marine-coastal-management/marine-and-coastal-strategy
