Sea countries of New South Wales: a benefits and threats analysis of Aboriginal people’s connections with the marine estate Sue Feary with contributions from Susan Donaldson September 2015 Final Report to NSW Marine Estate Management Authority © NSW Marine Estate Management Authority Image on front cover: Aborigines spearing fish, others diving for crayfish, a party seated beside a fire cooking fish, Port Jackson. Watercolour, Joseph Lycett (1775-1828). Authorship: The bulk of the report has been prepared by Dr Sue Feary, independent heritage consultant (Aboriginal archaeology), previously NSW protected area manager, including marine parks. Substantial sections of Chapter 2 were researched and written by consultant anthropologist, Susan Dale Donaldson, who has worked with south coast Aboriginal communities for many years. Feary and Donaldson are currently working on an oral history project with Aboriginal knowledge-holders, to identify values and threats to Aboriginal connections within Batemans Marine Park. They have previously prepared a background report documenting these connections. Acknowledgements: Thanks go to Sarah Fairfull for her professional support, direction and advice in managing the project, and to other DPI Fisheries staff - Lesley Diver and Natalie Gollan; Joe Neilson for GIS support, Matt Carr, Justin Gilligan and Graham Bowley for information and advice. Drafts of the report were restructured and sections of the report were substantially rewritten in response to comments from MEMA agency staff and members of the Marine Estate Expert Knowledge Panel. Peer reviewer Associate Professor Stephan Schnierer is thanked for his constructive and useful comments on the draft report. Feary, S (2015) Sea Countries of New South Wales: a benefits and threats analysis of Aboriginal people’s connections with the marine estate Page 2 Table of Contents Glossary ............................................................................................................................................................. 9 CHAPTER 1- INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................... 10 1.1. Background ...................................................................................................................................... 10 1.2. Legislative and administrative background for marine estate reforms .......................................... 11 1.3. Project objectives and outcomes .................................................................................................... 14 1.4. Project structure and methods ....................................................................................................... 14 1.5. Scope and limitations ...................................................................................................................... 17 CHAPTER 2 - ABORIGINAL PEOPLE AND THEIR CONNECTIONS TO THE NSW MARINE ESTATE. ..................... 19 2.1. Brief overview ...................................................................................................................................... 20 2.2. The Aboriginal population of NSW ....................................................................................................... 23 2.3. The meaning of cultural heritage in NSW ....................................................................................... 26 2.4. Previous studies of Aboriginal interests in the marine estate ........................................................ 31 2.5. Understanding connections ............................................................................................................ 33 2.6. Traditional life .................................................................................................................................. 34 2.6.1. The physical evidence .............................................................................................................. 35 2.6.2. Aboriginal religious beliefs associated with the marine environment .................................... 47 2.6.3. Totems ..................................................................................................................................... 49 2.6.4. Protocols and ritual practices .................................................................................................. 53 2.6.5. Traditional ecological knowledge ............................................................................................ 55 2.6.6. Transmitting and maintaining ................................................................................................. 60 2.7. After white settlement .................................................................................................................... 61 2.8. Contemporary connections ............................................................................................................. 64 2.8.1. Connection through the market economy .............................................................................. 66 2.8.2. Employment in government agencies ...................................................................................... 70 2.8.3. Harvesting wild resources for subsistence purposes ................................................................ 71 2.8.4. Harvesting wild resource for social/community purposes ....................................................... 75 2.8.5. As original custodians with cultural responsibilities ................................................................. 76 2.8.6. Engagement with government agencies ................................................................................... 77 2.8.7. Through political activism ......................................................................................................... 79 CHAPTER 3 - IDENTIFYING BENEFITS ............................................................................................................... 82 3.1. Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 82 3.2. Defining benefits ............................................................................................................................. 82 3.3. Benefits of the marine estate to Aboriginal communities .............................................................. 83 3.3.1. Environmental benefits ........................................................................................................... 86 3.3.2. Heritage benefits ..................................................................................................................... 87 3.3.3. Social benefits .......................................................................................................................... 89 Feary, S (2015) Sea Countries of New South Wales: a benefits and threats analysis of Aboriginal people’s connections with the marine estate Page 3 3.3.4. Economic benefits ................................................................................................................... 91 3.3.5. Aspirational benefits................................................................................................................ 92 CHAPTER 4 - THREATS ..................................................................................................................................... 96 4.1. Defining threats .................................................................................................................................... 96 4.2. Comprehending threats ..................................................................................................................... 102 4.2.1. Rights as traditional custodians of the marine environment not adequately recognised ......... 102 4.2.2. Regulations and access restrictions do not adequately accommodate rights or needs ....... 102 4.2.3. Consultation inadequate ....................................................................................................... 102 4.2.4. Inadequate employment opportunities ................................................................................ 103 4.2.5. Lack of economic development opportunities.Constraints to economic development ....... 103 4.2.6. Loss of cultural heritage (including biodiversity) .................................................................. 104 4.2.7. Insufficient involvement in management and planning and decision making ...................... 105 4.2.8. Inadequate understanding of Aboriginal worldviews ........................................................... 105 4.3. Identifying consequence and likelihood ........................................................................................ 106 CHAPTER 5 - GAPS IN KNOWLEDGE............................................................................................................... 111 CHAPTER 6 - ABORIGINAL COMMUNICATION AND ENGAGEMENT .............................................................. 113 6.1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 113 6.2. The value of consultation .............................................................................................................. 113 6.3. Likely key community stakeholders .............................................................................................. 114 6.4. A proposed