The NAILSMA Dugong and Marine Turtle Project
(DMTP) is ongoing in the Kimberley, Top End of the Northern
Territory, Gulf of Carpentaria, Cape York and the Torres
Strait. Project partners in these regions have been busy
working with participating communities in developing and delivering
management activity plans for their regions.
Go to the navigation bar within this category at
left, to view the updates for each regional project partner.
By Sasha Kiessling and Lorrae McArthur
The DTMP aims to achieve “Healthy and sustainable
populations of dugong and marine turtle in northern Australian
waters that support indigenous livelihoods.” Towards this
goal, project partners have developed Regional Activity Plans in
consultation with Traditional Owners (TOs) in selected pilot
communities. These Regional Activity Plans point out community
concerns, aspirations and ideas for the sustainable management of
dugong and marine turtles. Despite the many different backgrounds
and locations of the communities involved, many similar issues have
been identified, including:
- A commitment to using Indigenous Knowledge as the basis for
sustainable management;
- The need for more information on dugong and marine turtle
populations and their habitats;
- Capacity building of Indigenous rangers;
- Sound partnerships between communities, other regions,
researchers, government and non-government agencies and
industry;
- Education within communities, as well as the transfer of
knowledge to a wider audience
The DMTP Project Coordinator, Rod Kennett, oversees
cross-regional research, communications and training. Rod is
working to improve Indigenous peoples representation in government
land and sea initiatives, especially those related to dugong and
turtle research and management. In 2006, Rod led a team of speakers
at the national Coast to Coast Conference, and, has been taking the
views and aspirations of northern Australian salt water people to
local, state and national level forums. DMTP Regional Facilitators
have been appointed to work closely at the regional level and are
moving forward with their Regional Activity Plans.
