29/04/2005 - A natural
resource management plan over land that includes
perhaps the world's oldest aquaculture sites
has been launched as part of the Australian
Government's first Indigenous "sea country
plan".
The Kooyang Sea Country Plan identifies management
priorities for south-western Victoria, including
more than 700ha in Indigenous Protected Areas
and is the first cooperative sea country plan
to be developed nationally under the Australian
Government's regional marine planning program.
The Plan was developed with the joint efforts
of Indigenous communities in south-west Victoria
and the Australian Government as part of Australia's
first regional marine plan, the South-east
Regional Marine Plan, released in 2004.
The Plan was produced by the Framlingham
Aboriginal Trust and Winda Mara Aboriginal
Corporation with funding from the Australian
Government through the National Oceans Office.
Minister for the Environment and Heritage,
Senator Ian Campbell, said the Kooyang Sea
Country Plan was the result of positive cooperation
between the Australian Government and Indigenous
people in Western Victoria with benefits for
the environment.
"This plan shows the Australian Government
has recognised the traditional needs of Victorian
Aboriginal communities, particularly their
history of sustainable fishing," Senator
Campbell said.
Member for Wannon, Mr David Hawker MP, officially
launched the plan, stating the environmental
health of the area was testament to the responsible
management of its natural resources by many
generations of Aboriginal inhabitants.
"Indigenous communities are key participants
in regional marine planning and we hope the
level of engagement achieved for the Kooyang
Sea Country Plan will set the example for
Aboriginal communities throughout the country,"
Mr Hawker said.
An interesting but little-known feature of
the Maar people's management of the area is
the traditional trapping, harvesting and trading
of migratory eels that travel from spawning
grounds, believed to be in the Pacific islands,
to the river systems of eastern Australia.
European settlers in the region were surprised
to discover Aborigines used stones to build
complex traps, channels and holding areas,
many of which are intact today.
The launch of the Plan will be held today
on the site of one of the eel aquaculture
sites at Tooram Stones Homestead at Allansford,
near Warrnambool.
Please note there will be an opportunity
to take vision and still shots of short-finned
eels and interview Mr Hawker MP at a traditional
aquaculture area following the launch.
