Recognition of Aboriginal traditional fishing

Aboriginal traditional fishing in South Australia is recognised by the Fisheries Management Act 2007 (the Act). This provides for the development of Aboriginal traditional management plans in conjunction with existing or new Indigenous Land Use Agreements (ILUA).

Under the Act, Aboriginal traditional fishing means fishing engaged in by an Aboriginal person for the purposes of satisfying personal, domestic or non-commercial, communal needs, including:

• ceremonial, spiritual, and educational needs
• using fish and other natural marine and freshwater products according to Aboriginal custom.

Key priorities have been established to support the sustainable growth of the Aboriginal traditional fishing sector. These include:

• developing appropriate methods for collecting Aboriginal traditional catch and effort information
• analysis of the impact of Aboriginal traditional fishing on key species
• integration of management of Aboriginal traditional fishing with the management of the recreational sector.