Aboriginal fishing

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have lived along the Australian coastline for over 40,000 years. Many Northern Territory coastal Aboriginal groups continue to practise customary management and education that has been passed down over generations through stories, dance, song, art and ceremony. This usually means Aboriginal people will only fish and hunt within their own country and seek permission before fishing on someone else's country. Many of the marine and freshwater species are totemic featuring in art, craft and stories. These totemic values are linked to the protection of these species which is another form of customary management. These are only some of the customary management practices that Aboriginal people use to ensure the sustainability of their resources.

Subsistence fishing continues to be an important part of culture as well as a traditional source of protein. In recognition of the significant, cultural and spiritual connection Aboriginal people have with aquatic resources, a provision has been made under section 53 of the Fisheries Act 1988 that enables the continuation of culture and traditional use:

“Unless and to the extent to which it is expressed to do so but without derogating from any other law in force in the Territory, nothing in a provision of this Act or an instrument of a judicial or administrative character made under it shall limit the right of Aboriginals who have traditionally used the resources of an area of land or water in a traditional manner from continuing to use those resources in that area in that manner”.

The Aboriginal coastal licence provides a pathway for economic development and sustainable commercial activities in coastal Aboriginal communities. It enables Aboriginal people to establish small scale community fishing business at a low start-up cost.

Under section 183 of the Fisheries Regulations 1992, Aboriginal people living on Aboriginal lands granted under the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 may hold a licence to catch and sell fish.

Aboriginal coastal licences allow:

• the sale of 5000kg of fish per year
• the use of a fishing line, a net not exceeding 100m in length and with a mesh size not exceeding 65mm, a scoop net, a hand spear and if authorised by the licence, a traditional fish trap
• fish can be sold to a large range of customers including the public, fish retailers, restaurants, wholesalers and processors.

There are some restrictions, Aboriginal coastal licensees cannot:

• hold a commercial fishing licence or engage in fishing operations under the Aboriginal coastal licence while being an assistant of the holder of a commercial fishing licence
• transfer the licence.

The purpose of these limitations is to distinguish Aboriginal coastal licences from existing commercial fisheries.

To find out more, get the Aboriginal coastal licence fact sheet DOCX (58.6 KB).

How to apply

To apply for an Aboriginal coastal licence, fill in and submit the application.

Application for an Aboriginal coastal licence DOCX (65.7 KB)
Application for an Aboriginal coastal licence PDF (225.5 KB)

Log book

Within 28 days after the end of each month, licence holders must submit a coastal log book return PDF (1.4 MB).

Food safety requirements

The Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code has rules that help to make sure fish being sold to customers or food businesses is safe.

As an Aboriginal coastal licence holder, it is important to be aware of these rules.

For the sale of whole fish, Aboriginal coastal licence holders do not need to register as a food business, however they need to meet the requirements in the Primary Production and Processing (PPP) Standard for Seafood which is under the food standards code.

Any food business that purchases from an Aboriginal coastal licence holder, is required to make sure they are receiving seafood that:

• is protected from contamination
• is being held at the correct temperature
• can be traced back to the supplier.

Aboriginal coastal licence holders must have adequate food safety skills and knowledge. NT Health recommends the following online courses:

• I’m Alert!  - you will need to create an account
• DoFoodSafely.

If an Aboriginal coastal licence holder wishes to process fish in anyway, such as filleting, there may be a requirement to register as a food business under the Food Act 2004.

For more information, contact Environmental Health. Get their contact details on the NT Health website.

The Aboriginal Fishing Mentor Program (AFMP) provides Aboriginal coastal licence holders with training in commercial fishing skills, net making and repair, and seafood handling, processing and cold storage. The AFMP supports the participation of Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory (NT) seafood industry with over 110 Aboriginal people participating in the program over the past seven years.

The AFMP has developed a series of animated videos to promote safe fishing practices in remote communities. These videos were developed with the support of SeSAFE. SeSAFE is funded by the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC), the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) and the Australian fishing and aquaculture industry. The goal of SeSAFE is to raise awareness and improve safety performance in the Australian fishing and aquaculture industry.

The videos are available in Aboriginal language and will be delivered in remote communities across the NT.

There are 8 videos on YouTube:

1. Work, health and safety responsibilities
2. Dangerous marine life
3. Planning a trip
4. Launching a net from land
5. Launching a net from a boat
6. Processing fish
7. Working with ropes and nets
8. Using a cold chain.

The Northern Territory (NT) Government allocates funding, through the Fisheries division, to several coastal Indigenous ranger groups across the NT under its Indigenous Community Marine Ranger Program. The program was established in 2002 and funds are allocated through annual grants and controlled by a grant agreement.

The primary objective of this funding is to recognise and support Traditional Owners to be actively involved in the protection and management of their sea country. Marine rangers are tasked to carry out fisheries patrols and provide written reports back to the Fisheries division and the Water Police. Rangers identify and report on a variety of issues. Reports can be received on environmental threats such as ghost nets and on suspicious activity by commercial or recreational fishers.

The program is more than just the allocation of grants. Fisheries also provide on-ground coordination and support to the ranger groups to assist them patrol their sea country and to help them establish linkages with other government agencies, training providers, environment groups, the fishing industry and the Water Police.

Fisheries also works closely with the land councils to help ensure the ranger program is efficient and effective.

The Fisheries division also coordinates the delivery of the following nationally recognised training to the rangers:

• certificate II measuring and analysis
• certificate II fisheries compliance
• certificate III fisheries compliance.

This training provides a progressive career path for those who would like to further their careers in natural resource management and protection.

For more information, get the guidelines.

Indigenous Community Marine Ranger Program DOCX (786.3 KB)
Indigenous Community Marine Ranger Program PDF (546.8 KB)

The Northern Territory Government is committed to building long standing partnerships with Aboriginal people and developing a capable, committed workforce to ensure the sustainable use and management of our aquatic and marine resources.

The Fisheries Inspectors Program was developed to provide fisheries compliance powers to appropriately skilled and experienced land and sea ranger that have undertaken the required training.

The first Northern Territory fisheries inspectors (class 1) were appointed in May 2018. They have identification in the form of identification cards and inspector badges on their uniforms. Under the Fisheries Act 1988, fisheries inspectors (class 1) can:

• present authorised identification and approach vessels
• record evidence (including taking images, video and audio recordings)
• collect personal information (including names and addresses)
• ask to see any type of licence and permits
• inspect fishing gear in use.

It is an offence not to cooperate with fisheries inspectors and to obstruct a fisheries inspector from conducting their official duty.