Dugong and marine turtle project

Traditional Owners from the Kimberley, Top End of the Northern Territory, southern Gulf of Carpentaria, Cape York and the Torres Strait are joining forces to develop community-driven approaches to the sustainable management of marine turtles and dugongs in northern Australia. By Rod Kennett

Coordinated by the North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance (NAILSMA), the Dugong and Marine Turtle project takes a fresh approach to dugong and turtle management, by ensuring that Traditional Owners and Indigenous communities are driving research and management activities.

Project partners comprise the Kimberley Land Council, Northern Land Council, Carpentaria Land Council Aboriginal Corporation, Cape York Balkanu Development Corporation and the Torres Strait Regional Authority. It is these organisations who will oversee the delivery of the project in selected ‘pilot’ or ‘trial’ communities in their regions.

A Technical Reference Group (TRG) of researchers, and government, non-government and industry representatives will provide professional advice and expertise on dugong and marine turtles and management issues. With funding of $3.8 million over 2.5 years from the Australian Government’s Natural Heritage Trust and cash and in-kind contributions from project partners and participating communities of over $3 million, the project represents a substantial commitment by all involved.

The project began in January 2005 and the first meeting of project partners and the TRG was held in February 2005 in Darwin. At this meeting people discussed Indigenous and non-Indigenous perspectives on dugong and turtle management and the aims and objectives of the project. It marked the start of the project planning phase in which project partners worked with Traditional Owners to develop Regional Activity Plans (RAPs).

The RAPs determine how the project will be delivered on the ground, identifying Traditional Owners needs and aspirations, the issues and threats facing dugong and turtle management, and the management and research activities that communities wish to undertake during the project. Development and revision of the RAPs was assisted by TRG members who provided technical and scientific advice and comments. Revised RAPs were presented and discussed at the second meeting of the Project Partners and TRG held in July in Cairns.

At the July meeting project partners worked together to ensure that funding was allocated fairly taking into account the needs and circumstances of each partner and participating communities.

This was particularly challenging because the strong community interest in the project (and high costs of working in remote areas) meant that collectively partners were asking for twice the amount available.

One of the meeting participants described the meeting as: “A forum generously garnished with mutual respect and a desire to reach practical agreement and resolution of very difficult issues”.

Despite the many different backgrounds and locations of the people and communities involved in the project, many similar issues and activities were identified. All communities identified the need to record and value Indigenous Knowledge and customary practice as a basis of developing sustainable management arrangements. Participants also wanted to actively manage and monitor dugong and turtle populations and habitats, as well as to work with other Indigenous people and scientists to improve understanding of the many threats and issues faced by dugong and turtle, including Indigenous hunting.

Across northern Australia, NAILSMA will work with project partners to develop standardised ways of recording and storing information, and to conduct research projects such as a study of the cultural and economic importance of dugongs and turtles to Indigenous livelihoods.

By identifying and creating opportunities for training and for exchange visits between participating communities from different regions, the NAILSMA project will assist people to learn and share new ideas, knowledge and experiences. Communication activities such as videos, media stories, art competitions and the soon to be launched NAILSMA web site will promote communication amongst partners and improve public understanding of the rights, roles, responsibilities and achievements of Indigenous people in managing dugong and marine turtles.

The project planning phase winds up in late 2005, following formal approval of the RAPs by the NHT Joint Steering Committee and the launch of on-ground activities in early 2006. NAILSMA, the Project Partners and .communities believe that by working together they can contribute to a long term vision of healthy and sustainable populations of dugong and marine turtles that support Indigenous livelihoods across north Australia.