David Ciaravolo, Executive Director, Northwest Territories Recreational Fishers Association: “We are delighted that this agreement provides a solid foundation for building a future that will benefit recreational fishers and traditional owners.” Christopherson said they expected there to be a deal that would cover the entire coast. The agreement calls on the territorial government to cooperate in the drafting and introduction of legislation to amend the Fisheries Act, expand Indigenous coastal permits and secure commitment to Indigenous capacity building programs. Ten million dollars will also be allocated to fund the creation of an Indigenous-owned fishing unit. It is time for us to reach this agreement on the eve of 11 September. Celebrate the anniversary of the 2008 Supreme Court decision in the case purchased by the traditional owners of Blue Mud Bay. Traditional landowners, the Government of the Northwest Territories and the three fishing sectors have signed an agreement that will guarantee licence-free access to coastal waters for the next 18 months. This is a historic day that shows that if First Nations receive the resources, support and recognition from government and industry, we can reach agreement on very complex issues. During this period, NTG and NLC committed to continue working with the other parties to the Nitmiluk Heads of Agreement to reach a long-term agreement. Access to recreational fishing in Indigenous coastal waters will continue until at least the end of 2022 under a new agreement between the Government of the Northern Territory (NTG) and the Northern Land Council (NLC). The NLC will continue to consult with traditional owners on this positive new agreement. The Government of the Northwest Territories, the Northwest Territories Seafood Council, the Recreational Fisherman`s Association (AFANT) and the Guided Fishing Industry Association signed an agreement promising traditional owners that they would finally reap real benefits from the 2008 High Court decision in Blue Mud Bay. The agreement facilitated the continued access of recreational, commercial and fishing guides to Indigenous coastal waters for 18 months, while negotiations continued to find a solution in Blue Mud Bay.
Important parts of the final agreement have not yet been developed, including an agreement between the Government of the Northwest Territories and the fishing industry that will help traditional owners enter the commercial fishing and tourism industry. For all the traditional owners, this is an example of Macarrata at work and we hope that the government and people of the NT will accept our willingness to reach an agreement for the benefit of all Territorians. The current access agreements are expected to remain in place for another 12 months while the issue is resolved. “We can see each other and our relationship with the country. For example, where I am now is my homeland, I am his son. Warren de With, President of AFANT: “Today is the culmination of years of hard work and cooperation, paving the way for safety and a bright future for recreational fishing in the territory. For the first time since the High Court of Australia`s Blue Mud Bay decision in 2008, a vision to resolve Blue Mud Bay was achieved in an agreement signed today at the 120th session of the Northern Land Council in Nitmiluk. The NLC recognizes the five years of hard work of the NLC Sea Country Working Group, which works with the Government of the Northwest Territories, the Northwest Territories Recreational Fishers Association, the Northwest Territories Seafood Council and the Northwest Territories Guided Fishing Industry Association, as important industry organizations. Share on: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn Share on reddit Share on Pinterest NT Seafood Council CEO Katherine Winchester: “We are very pleased to move forward with the Northern Land Council in a spirit of collaboration through an agreement with all parties.” Dennis Sten, Co-Chair of the Guided Fishing Industry Association NT: “The Northwest Territories Guided Fishing Association Committee welcomes the Blue Mud Bay Chiefs of Understanding.
It provides an opportunity to work with all parties to develop unique and world-class opportunities for recreational fishing and aboriginal fishing tourism with all parties and to reaffirm the Northern Territory as an Australian and international fishing and tourism attraction. Marion Scrymgour, CEO of the Northern Land Council, said: “The NLC is delighted that this issue is finally being resolved. Settlement agreements are exciting and offer great opportunities. I believe that this package will really contribute to reconciliation. Most importantly, we recognize that this agreement would not have come to fruition without the hard work and dedication of the traditional Indigenous owners of Zeeland in the Northwest Territories. In July 2020, the NLC and the Government of the Northwest Territories signed the Blue Mud Bay Action Plan, which is part of the Nitmiluk Heads of Agreement. Under the Heads of Agreement, there are no plans for new sport fishing or vessel registration licences, but a new code of conduct for fishing in indigenous waters could include a vessel identification system. Fishermen may have to deal with new licensing systems under the final agreement, but not in the large basins of the Darwin, Daly or East Alligator rivers. Indigenous Affairs Minister Selena Uibo, NLC President Samuel Bush-Blanasi, Chief Minister Michael Gunner and NLC Executive Director Marion Marion Scrymgour. As part of the Action Plan, the NTG is providing up to $10 million to support the creation of an Indigenous Fisheries Unit to facilitate the participation of traditional owners in fisheries, aquaculture and other opportunities related to fishing activities in the Northern Territory “The Government of the Northern Territory is helping Indigenous Territories by helping traditional owners to: realize one`s aspirations by exploiting the social and economic potential of one`s ancestors. Land and water.
. “I don`t tell [people] what to do, I just give a message when people. It is a message to feel what is good and what is bad, for our lives and our children. It`s safe in the countries of origin,” he said. Note: All comments made or posted here are subject to the Online Discussions Terms and Conditions. Since the decision, the Government of the Northwest Territories has managed and regulated fishing in the region through temporary fishing licences issued to commercial operators and recreational fishers. AFANT CEO David Ciaravolo said he was not concerned about this. “The Northern Territory has never had contemporary legislation that includes the maritime rights of traditional owners, including increased participation in fisheries management for traditional owners and greater accountability for Indigenous peoples,” said Scrymgour. Quotes that can be attributed to Prime Minister Michael Gunner. All groups describe it as a breakthrough after nearly 11 years of frustration during tense and often deadlocked negotiations.
The traditional owners have agreed to continue to grant free access to 80% of the territory`s coastline for 18 months while final negotiations are ongoing. He said that one of the most important things the government would consider is buying back licences for the commercial fishing industry. On June 26, 2019, the NTG, NLC, NT Seafood Council, Amateur Fishermen`s Association of the Northwest Territories and the NT Guided Fishing Industry Association in Nitmiluk signed a document on the Heads of Agreement (the Nitmiluk Heads of Agreement). “This is a big step forward for Territory Fishos, for traditional owners, for tourism and for employment. Quotes attributed to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, Selena Uibo. While you`re with us, you can now receive updates from the Katherine Times directly to your inbox every Friday at 6 a.m. .m. To make sure you`re up to date with all the news, sign up here. The Government of the Northwest Territories will amend fisheries legislation to ensure stricter fisheries management. The government was also asked to give enforcement powers to Indigenous groups of marine rangers. However, the traditional owners felt that the agreement was not beneficial to them. Mudiny singer Guyula said the song was meant to bring people “back to their promised land, their homeland, so we can recognize who we are.” The Blue Mud Bay Implementation Action Plan expires at the end of 2022.
“It will be about developing a transition process,” she said. “And we need to make sure there are no grey areas so that people can make decisions to stay in the industry or enter the industry. In July 2008, in the Blue Mud Bay case, the Australian Supreme Court ruled that traditional Aboriginal landowners have the right to control access to water on “Aboriginal land”, including the intertidal zone. This means that traditional owners control access to approximately 85% of the Northwest Territories coast. “Fishing will continue to be allowed. It`s just that the management and enforcement of the law can change in some areas,” he said. But we also understand that there will be sections along the coast where different people will have different needs and expectations,” he said. “The second step in the action plan is the establishment of an Indigenous shipping company. This will facilitate the participation of traditional owners in the fishing industry. In this context, the focus will be on how we manage these fisheries sustainably so that they are there for future generations.
The Blue Mud Bay Implementation Action Plan commits the Government of the Northwest Territories and the NLC to take a number of steps to ensure long-term, permanent access to fisheries and create new industries and jobs for Indigenous territories. Quotes from Marion Scrymgour, CEO of the Northern Land Council: At the meeting, the chair of the NLC`s Sea Countries Working Group, Keith Rory, asked Mr Kirby how all this is paid for. The chair of the Sea Countries Working Group, Keith Rory, said: “I look forward to seeing what the agreement will bring. This is one of the best development opportunities we have ever seen for the people of the bush and for the Territorians as a whole. Most importantly, this work has been done with and on behalf of Indigenous peoples, who have rights, interests and responsibilities along the territory`s more than 6,000 kilometres of coastline. .
