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Casting an Indigenous hook - workshop to discuss cultural fishery in Tasmania

The quest to put Indigenous wild-catch on food tourism tables will this week draw on the support and knowledge of 40 participants from the Aboriginal community, government, industry and researchers at a workshop at Eaglehawk Neck.

To be opened by the Governor of Tasmania, Professor Kate Warner, the Indigenous Fisheries Workshop on the 21st of February will discuss the barriers and opportunities to establish a cultural fishery market in Tasmania.

Organiser Dr Emma Lee, an Indigenous researcher at the Centre for Marine Socioecology and IMAS, said the workshop is an important first step to understand what cultural fisheries mean to Aboriginal Tasmanians and how caring for sea country can contribute to resilient and diverse regional development, especially food tourism.  

“Cultural fisheries could be a dynamic brand that adds to food tourism, where the heritage of living midden sites is transformed into contemporary experiences over the restaurant table,” Dr Lee said.

cleaning abalone“But there are some hurdles we need to overcome first.  For example, the legislation is a bit fuzzy in regards to what Aboriginal people can do in supporting food tourism and marine stewardship.  

“While we can explicitly collect and sell shell necklaces as a cultural activity, we cannot do it with shellfish.

“Re-imagining Aboriginal cultural fisheries as a collaborative process that supports export industries and local commercial ventures begins with understanding historical barriers, such as the division between commercial, non-commercial and cultural fishery regulations.”

Dr Lee said lunch would be among the most important parts of the day, with cultural wild-catch seafood to be served to participants.  

“Lunch and human rights are two of my favourite things, so demonstrating the future opportunities of cultural food tourism and the shifting of regulatory barriers through a meal will be a humbling experience to share.”

Fishing basketDr Lee said the Workshop will also focus on the contributions that Aboriginal peoples make to Tasmania.

“The current Tasmanian Government has invested in resetting the relationship with Aboriginal Tasmanians over land management and are keen to see those gains expanded to other avenues.,” Dr Lee said.

Dr Lee said that participants will hear from governments in regards to policies and funding programs that may be appropriate for Aboriginal Tasmanians and others to investigate working partnerships.  

Other information sources will look at current Indigenous fisheries research and local education curriculum upgrades that start to value contributions that Aboriginal Tasmanians have made, and continue to make, to marine stewardship.

Authorised by the Executive Director, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies
28 October, 2022