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 Primary Industries 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 and
- 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 DPI Fisheries staff
- Advice on research priorities relating to Aboriginal people’s connection with the fisheries resource
- Employment and training for Aboriginal people within DPI and Aboriginal involvement in each sector
- Advice on expenditure from the Aboriginal Fishing Trust Fund.
Enquiries regarding the Council can be made to DPI on (02) 4424 7400.
AFAC membership
The AFAC is composed of up to fourteen members, as prescribed under the Fisheries Management (General) Regulation 2010.
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 name and region | Profile |
|---|---|
Mr Rene Woods - Chair Region 1 Far West NSW | |
Currently vacant Region 2 North West | |
Mr Michael Nolan Region 3 Central NSW | |
Mr David Carter Region 4 South Western NSW | |
Dr Chels Marshall - Deputy Chair Region 5 Northern NSW | |
Ms Regina Moran Region 6 Far North Coast NSW | |
Mr Wayne Anderson Region 7 North Coast NSW | |
Mr Ross McEntyre Region 8 Sydney and NSW Central Coast | |
Mr Graham Connolly Jr Region 9 South Coast NSW | |
Currently vacant Region 10 Far South Coast NSW | |
Dr Laura Parker Other Aboriginal Person | |
Ms Natalie Rotumah Nominee of NTSCORP | |
Cllr Peter Smith Nominee of NSWALC | |
Ms Laura McNamara Senior Officer of NSW DPI |
Map of AFAC membership regions
AFAC Chair Summaries
- Meeting 26 Chair Summary - 10-11 October 2022 (PDF, 108.06 KB)
- Meeting 25 Chair Summary - 21-22 June 2022 (PDF, 50.72 KB)
- Meeting 24 Chair Summary - 12-13 August 2021 (PDF, 133.67 KB)
- Meeting 23 Chair Summary - 24-25 February 2021 (PDF, 85.96 KB)
- Meeting 22 Chair Summary - 25-26 November 2020 (PDF, 106.43 KB)
- Meeting 21 Chair Summary - 22-23 July 2020 ( PDF, 86.23 KB)
- Meeting 20 Chair Summary - 28-29 January 2020 ( PDF, 97.75 KB)
- Meeting 19 Chair Summary - 13-14 May 2019 ( PDF, 97.32 KB)
- Meeting 18 Chair Summary - 18-19 October 2018 (PDF, 96.82 KB)
- Meeting 17 Chair Summary - 12-13 June 2018 ( PDF, 96.87 KB)
- Meeting 16 Chair Summary - 20 February 2018 (PDF, 90.84 KB)
- Meeting 15 Chair Summary - 7 September 2017 (PDF, 45.87 KB)
- Meeting 14 Chair Summary - 3 May 2017 (PDF, 91.6 KB)
