Commercial fishing

Commercial fishing has offered, and continues to offer, economic opportunity and an appealing source of employment for Aboriginal communities. The NSW Government is keen to ensure Aboriginal peoples’ commercial association with the fisheries resource is maintained and developed.

Close consultation with the Aboriginal Fishing Advisory Council (AFAC) will assist in determining viable economic opportunities for Aboriginal communities associated with the fisheries resource whilst reviewing existing commercial fishing arrangements and, how they sit with cultural aspects of community and family.

DPI, will also look at a number of initiatives to help actively encourage Aboriginal people to participate in the commercial fishing industry.

The initiatives include:

• Reducing red tape to create avenues for the continued development and participation of Aboriginal people in commercial fisheries;
• Traineeships or training permits;
• Forming an Aboriginal Fishing Trust to provide funding for worthwhile Aboriginal fishing ventures;
• Building industry capacity through mentoring and training to develop business skills and build business partnerships and;
• Supporting and assisting external projects that seek to develop strategies to maintain and build involvement of Aboriginal people in the NSW commercial fishing sector.

Information on the NSW commercial fisheries can be obtained on the Department’s Commercial Fishing webpage. 

Aquaculture

Aquaculture is a business opportunity for communities or individuals and may also be undertaken successfully at a small, less intensive scale to enhance access to quality seafood.

NSW DPI will assist individuals, communities and Local Aboriginal Land Councils by case management of aquaculture development proposals. 

NSW DPI has developed sustainable aquaculture strategies for both oyster and land based aquaculture activities.

Advisory information can be found on the Department’s Aquaculture webpage.