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Department of Primary Industries

Aboriginal Fishing Advisory Council

The Aboriginal Fishing Advisory Council (AFAC) has been established under Section 229 of the Fisheries Management Act 1994 to provide strategic level advice to the Minister for Agriculture on issues affecting Aboriginal fishing.

The Council will continue to play an important role in the development of cultural fishing policy as well as exploring commercial opportunities for Aboriginal communities associated with fishing activities.

Functions


The functions of the Council are to:

  • advise the Minister on any matter that is referred to it
  • advise the Minister on any other matter it considers relevant to the Aboriginal fishing sector.

Within these broad functions the Council has focus on the following priority areas.

  • Aboriginal interests in the management of fisheries
  • Aboriginal access to fisheries resources for cultural purposes
  • Commercial/economic opportunities for Aboriginal people flowing from fisheries activity
  • Advice on appropriate cultural awareness training for DPIRD Fisheries staff
  • Advice on research priorities relating to Aboriginal people’s connection with the fisheries resource
  • Employment and training for Aboriginal people within DPIRD and Aboriginal involvement in each sector
  • Advice on expenditure from the Aboriginal Fishing Trust Fund.

Click here for AFAC frequently asked questions. (PDF, 834.57 KB)

Enquiries regarding the Council can be made to DPIRD on Aboriginal.fishing@dpi.nsw.gov.au




AFAC membership

AFAC membership

The AFAC is composed of up to 14 members, as prescribed under the Fisheries Management (General) Regulation 2019.

The membership of the Council must include the following:

  • Aboriginal persons appointed to represent different regions of the State (not more than 10 persons in total)
  • one other Aboriginal person
  • one person appointed as a representative of NTSCORP Limited
  • one person appointed as a representative of the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council
  • a senior officer of the Department (non-voting member).

The make-up of the Council aims to provide for knowledge and experience of:

  • Aboriginal cultural fishing
  • social and cultural significance of commercial fishing for Aboriginal people
  • fisheries issues affecting Aboriginal people and communities.

The AFAC members also provide knowledge of, and capacity to, speak for the local region on fisheries related issues.


Current AFAC membership

Member nameRegion
Ms Prissy Stephens Regional 1 Far West
Mr Paul SchenkRegional 2 North West
Mr Michael NolanRegion 3 Central
Mr David CarterRegion 4 South Western
Mr Malcolm Talbot Region 5 Northern
Ms Regina MoranRegion 6 Far North Coast
Mr Wayne AndersonRegion 7 North Coast
Mr Ross McEntyreRegion 8 Sydney and NSW Central Coast
Dr Jodi EdwardsRegion 9 South Coast
Mr Blaan DaviesRegion 10 Far South Coast
Dr Laura ParkerOther Aboriginal Person appointed by the Minister
Ms Natalie RotumahNominee of NTSCORP
Cllr Peter SmithNominee of NSWALC
Ms Laura McNamaraSenior Officer of NSW DPIRD

Map of AFAC membership regions

map of regions in different colours


Meeting minutes