School students from the NSW South Coast will gain a unique insight into Aboriginal cultural activities through an education program underway as part of the NSW Government’s Marine Estate Management Strategy.
An Aboriginal education officer from Narooma primary school and rangers from the Wagonga Local Aboriginal Land Council will deliver activities to students from Narooma and Tilba primary schools on Friday 28 June.
The students will learn about Aboriginal Sea Country culture on the NSW south coast, including traditional fishing techniques.
“This education program is part of the Marine Estate Management Strategy which aims to protect and enhance our marine environment as well as the social, economic and cultural benefits we all derive from the marine estate,” Acting Deputy Director General Fisheries Sarah Fairfull said.
“The strategy includes several actions that aim to increase Aboriginal community participation in management of the NSW marine estate and to manage threats to traditional Land and Sea Country culture.”
Aboriginal staff and Local Aboriginal Land Council rangers employed as part of the Marine Estate Management Strategy are delivering the actions that include:
protecting Aboriginal cultural sites
removing abandoned oyster lease structures
vessel skills training and qualifications to promote Aboriginal people working on Country and marine tourism opportunities
removing marine debris and coastal weeds
protecting and monitoring endangered shorebird nests
revegetating the banks of priority coastal lakes
a traditional bark canoe making project supporting transfer of knowledge to younger generations
The marine estate includes all marine waters and estuaries along the 1,750 kilometre NSW coastline.
“These actions have been developed after extensive engagement with coastal Aboriginal communities since 2014 and we are excited to see them now being delivered by government with our many partners under the Strategy,” Ms Fairfull said.
