The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, Minister for the Environment and Water
The Hon Malarndirri McCarthy, Minister for Indigenous Australians
The Albanese Labor Government has committed over $1.2 million towards improving management of marine parks and supporting First Nations people to manage Sea Country in the Northern Territory.
Charles Darwin University will receive $887,700 for two projects to integrate traditional knowledge with western science to inform marine park management, including:
- $391,044 to identify key foraging and migratory routes of turtles and cetaceans in the Arafura Marine Park and support the Garngi Rangers in managing their traditional land and Sea Country; and
- $496,656 to document the cultural and biodiversity values of Tiwi people in the Oceanic Shoals Marine Park and improve understanding of oceanic climate change through the establishment of a monitoring program.
Aquenal Pty Ltd will receive $317,171 to digitise an extensive underwater image collection and provide a detailed report on coral species' distributions and trends in the North Marine Parks network. This will provide critical insights into natural values and stressors within the network.
Through Round 4 of Our Marine Park Grants program, the Albanese Labor Government is investing $8.6 million nationally to support projects that tap into the expertise and enthusiasm of a diverse range of marine experts and users, to deliver practical outcomes that improve the health and resilience of our oceans.
The program supports projects that enhance the management, research and monitoring of Australian Marine Parks.
Australia is a world leader in the creation and management of effective marine parks, with over four million square kilometres - or 48 per cent - of Australia's waters under marine park protection.
With recent initiatives to strengthen sub-Antarctic protection, the proportion of Australian waters within marine parks is set to increase to 52 per cent. The 60 Australian Marine Parks comprise the majority of this network.
Quotes from the Minister for the Environment and Water, Tanya Plibersek:
"No one knows this country better than First Nations people and this investment will further empower local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people will have the opportunity to manage and care for Sea Country.
"The Our Marine Park Grants program boosts jobs, supports our precious oceans, and supports First Nations peoples' connection to Country."
Quotes from the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy:
"Empowering First Nations people to manage our marine parks and impart valuable knowledge built on 65,000 years of managing Country delivers outcomes that benefit everyone.
"First Nations peoples' connection to Country is central to their spiritual, cultural, physical and economic wellbeing and this funding commitment will create opportunities that also deliver important conservation outcomes for our waters."
