Northern Australia Sea Rangers part of world turtle project

Torres News 8 Mar 09;

Indigenous Sea Rangers from northern Australia, including a contingent from the Torres Strait Islands, impressed international delegates at the 29th Sea Turtle Symposium held in Brisbane.

The Dugong and Marine Turtle Project is the first of its kind, striving to manage marine turtles on a regional scale that matches the animal’s large migratory range.

The project aims to conserve the species across northern Australia, one of the world’s few remaining strongholds for the animals; and is coordinated by the North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance - a partnership comprising the Kimberley Land Council, Northern Land Council, Carpentaria Land Council Aboriginal Corporation, Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation and the Torres Strait Regional Authority.

NAILSMA chief executive officer Joe Morrison said: "Indigenous land and sea managers across northern Australia are world-leaders in many regards; combining traditional knowledge with modern science to manage marine turtles in Australia."

Kaurareg traditional owner Pearson Wigness said the community-based management plans developed by Torres Strait Islanders had raised a lot of interest at the symposium.

"They were impressed by the way we have integrated traditional law with the needs of other stakeholders like the government and the scientific community, to manage turtle and dugong in our region. And they want to learn from our example."

TSRA Alternate Debuty Chair Kenny Bedford, who also attended the symposium, described the event as a valuable opportunity to share experiences and achievements with other indigenous people, conservationists and scientists from around Australia and the world.

"Through this process our people and community efforts in this management area are being recognised and praised internationally," he said.

"The importance of our region in the global management of sea turtles is also being acknowledged."

Attending the symposium were Mr Bedford, Charles David (Iama Project Officer) and Damian Miley (Land and Sea Management Unit, TSRA).