Research and knowledge sharing

In recent years, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) has assisted, and is currently providing support to, researchers undertaking a number of Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) funded projects which address knowledge gaps in Indigenous fisheries research.

These projects include:

• Impact of management changes on the viability of Indigenous commercial fishers and the flow on effects to their communities: Case study in NSW (FRDC Project No. 2010/304)
• Aboriginal fisheries in NSW: determining catch cultural significance of species and traditional fishing knowledge needs (FRDC Project No. 2009/038)
• Indigenous cultural fishing and fisheries governance (FRDC Project No 2012/216)
• Improving access for Indigenous Australians and involvement in the use and management of Australian fisheries resources (FRDC Project No 2014/233)
• Mapping livelihood values of Indigenous Customary Fishing (FRDC Project No 2015/205)
• DPIRD Fisheries research priorities are identified in the DPIRD Fisheries Strategic Research Plan (PDF, 7959.06 KB).

Two-eyed seeing

This project is about working with NSW Aboriginal communities to identify freshwater cultural fishery values and supporting communities to use their cultural knowledge to influence sustainable management of freshwater native fish.

The project is just starting, and we are looking for Expressions of Interest from Aboriginal Communities to participate.

Further information about the Two-eyed seeing project.

Connections to Sea Country - Aboriginal People of Coastal NSW survey

The Connections to Sea Country – Aboriginal Peoples of Coastal NSW Survey (Wave 1) is the first survey of its kind, aimed at improving our understanding of Aboriginal peoples' cultural connections to Sea Country and the impacts on these connections.

This survey is the first of what is intended to be a continuing conversation about the importance of and responsibilities for maintaining a healthy Sea Country.

Further information and survey reports.