Yirrganydji TUMRA
Yirrganydji Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreement (TUMRA)
In 2010, Yirrganydji Traditional owners became increasingly concerned about the issues affecting their traditional sea country between Cairns and Port Douglas, North Queensland. So various Yirrganydji families and people initiated the development of a TUMRA with the assistance of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority over the following years.
It was in April 2014, the Yirrganydji TUMRA was accredited by the Australian and Queensland Governments under the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 and the Marine Parks Act 2004. The voluntary agreement not only recognises Yirrganydji people to continue their cultural values in the Marine Park but to assert cultural authority and management of traditional marine resources in the Marine Park. It also provides the ability to isolate illegal activities that are occurring in the marine park from the care, traditional sustainable use and harvest of marine resources by the Yirrganydji people.
Through the TUMRA program, we aim to foster sustainability and protection of the Great Barrier Reef, continue our culture and be engaged in the management of our sea country. We, as the Traditional owners of the Cairns to Port Douglas coastline, believe it’s a shared responsibility on looking after country. So we wish to work in partnership with others on preserving the outstanding values of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area for the future.
For more information on Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreements, visit the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority's website on:
https://www2.gbrmpa.gov.au/learn/traditional-owners/traditional-use-marine-resources-agreements
