The Australian Government will invest $2.8 million into a partnership with the Northern Territory Government to pave the way for Indigenous-led marine park management in the south-west Gulf of Carpentaria.
This partnership delivers on an election commitment to support Traditional Owners of the Limmen Bight region to work with both levels of government to protect the unique natural and cultural values of Sea Country in the Limmen Bight.
It also forms part of a broader $10.8 million commitment in this Budget over four years to guide future ocean management in Australia and enhance Australia’s standing as a world leader in ocean and marine park management.
The money will support Traditional Owners to carry out surveys on sea country and then to develop conservation and management plans for the future of the Marine Parks. They will develop plans to manage emerging threats, including climate change and illegal fishing.
Marra Sea Country spans both the Commonwealth-managed Limmen Marine Park and the Northern Territory-managed Limmen Bight Marine Park.
This funding will support conservation efforts to protect species like seagrass, dugongs, turtles and dolphins.
This partnership will pilot a best practice model for managing the environment in a way that links marine parks across both jurisdictions while respecting First Nations culture.
Quotes attributable to Minister for the Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek:
“We are lucky to have 60,000 years of First Nations’ conservation knowledge to draw on.
“Cooperation between the Commonwealth, Territory Governments and the Marra people will allow an integrated approach to managing and protecting the region’s significant values and provide economic and cultural benefits for the community.
“The Marra people of the Limmen region have developed their Land and Sea Country Plan which shows their enduring connection to Country and their commitment and aspirations to look after the land and sea passed down to them by their ancestors.
“Taking a joined-up approach to managing the region’s cultural, biodiversity and economic values will deliver the best outcomes – particularly given the region’s remoteness.
Quotes attributable to Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians:
“Less than 10,000 years ago, the Gulf was an inland lake. Aboriginal people have lived here for tens of thousands of years before sea levels started to rise. The Marra people have Sea Country rights and responsibilities in the marine park.
"As a Yanyuwa Garrawa woman with cultural links to Marra and Gurindji people, I understand the importance of connection to sea country and the need to maintain these environments.
“Our efforts to preserve and protect the environment for the many marine species that live beneath the ocean surface are important to all of us.
“Collaboration with both levels of government will strengthen our Sea Country management and allow us to focus on the habitats and creatures that call this park home.”
Key background facts:
- The Limmen Bight region is recognised for its biodiversity. Its extensive deep-water seagrass meadows support populations of turtles and dugongs. The area is also home to other important plant and animal species such as dolphins, sea-snakes and a diverse array of invertebrate species including sponges and gorgonians.
- The Limmen Marine Park is located in Commonwealth waters off the coast of the Northern Territory and Queensland. The marine park is managed by Parks Australia as part of the North Marine Parks Network. The marine park is a habitat protection zone, supporting Indigenous use, limited commercial fishing, tourism and recreational activities, which in turn contribute to social, cultural and economic benefits.
- The Northern Territory-managed Limmen Bight Marine Park covers the nearshore waters adjacent to the Commonwealth Limmen Marine Park and the Northern Territory’s Limmen National Park, providing protection in this region from catchment to coast to offshore waters.
- Of this $2.8 million investment, $2.3 million will be provided to the Northern Territory government and $0.5m provided to the Director of National Parks to support delivery of the partnership.