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Welcome contact.firstname,
We’re proud to share the first edition of FRDC News: Indigenous Edition, a e-newsletter that brings together stories celebrating the knowledge, leadership and innovation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in fishing and aquaculture.
This newsletter series will highlight Indigenous-led projects, partnerships and perspectives that have previously featured in FRDC News. By bringing them together in one place, we aim to recognise and amplify the vital role of First Nations communities in caring for sea and freshwater Country and shaping the future of Australia’s fisheries and aquaculture sectors. We hope you find inspiration and insight in the stories shared here. |
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Story of culture, art and connection
FRDC commissioned an artwork by Aboriginal, Torres Strait and Māori artist Beau Pennefather Motlop, whose connection to saltwater runs deep, having assisted his grandfather, a passionate fisher, casting nets during his childhood. |
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'Incredible experience': Indigenous professionals make their mark at pivotal conference
The Australian Society for Fish Biology (ASFB) 2025 conference, supported by FRDC, has cemented the position of First Nations voices in fisheries science innovation. |
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'Bright future': Weaving traditional Indigenous knowledge into modern day seaweed farming
Mechanic, artist and now an emerging Indigenous figure, Moonrise Seaweed Co’s Director and a proud Narungga man, Brad Darkson led a successful First Nations seaweed panel at the International Seaweed Symposium (ISS) in Canada last year. |
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Everybody wins with the IRG
Since its formal establishment in 2011, FRDC’s Indigenous Reference Group (IRG) has made significant strides, advancing the economic, environmental and social benefits of Indigenous and non-indigenous fishers, with 2026 marking a bold, new era. |
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Reeling in more than just a great catch
For Indigenous Australians, fish are not just a food source, they are an integral cultural tool, fostering identity and vital intergenerational ties. |
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Shuck yeah! Oysters are thriving on Gunaikurnai Country in Victoria's Gippsland Lakes
An aquaculture trial, which is empowering First Nations peoples, combining their knowledge and stewardship with innovation, could soon mean Victorians are one step closer to enjoying home grown Sydney Rock Oysters (Saccostrea glomerata). |
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Like many dishes from coastal regions, the focus for this recipe is on simplicity and letting the seafood shine, with pipis quickly cooked until they open and release their natural juices. They are then combined with a rich ‘nduja sauce of olive oil, shallots, passata and spicy Calabrian ‘nduja, creating a bold dish that balances the sweetness of the pipis with the warmth of the sausage. When Guy Grossi chooses Goolwa pipis, he said:
“Goolwa Pipis are not only fresh and clean, but they also have amazing salinity and texture. I’ve seen guests roll their eyes and stare towards heaven as they taste them. You don’t see that often.” |
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Welcome to spotlight, where FRDC is shining a light on some of the extraordinary people we work with through day and night.
FRDC is privileged to work with Emma. Her passion and leadership were instrumental in the 2023 signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Research to Rights: Supporting Cultural Fisheries for Aboriginal Tasmanians.
This MoU acknowledged the deep cultural and personal significance of fishing and Sea Country access for Tasmanian Aboriginal communities. It was developed in collaboration with FRDC, the Land and Sea Aboriginal Corporation Tasmania, Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation and University of Tasmania (represented by Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies).
Professor Lee, a trawlwulwuy woman of tebrakunna country, north-east Tasmania, is a Professorial Research Fellow with Federation University Australia’s National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice and a founding board member of the Land and Sea Aboriginal Corporation Tasmania (LSACT), a social enterprise comprised of multiple Aboriginal organisations that helped establish the first Aboriginal at-scale abalone fishery in Australia, and the first registered charity to hold commercial rights to abalone globally.
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2019-143: An investigation of the Indigenous Knowledges and nutritional, health and wellbeing benefits and values of seafood for supporting Indigenous fisheries development |
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This interdisciplinary project explores the nutritional, health, and wellbeing benefits of seafood for Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory, centering on Indigenous knowledge and perspectives.
Through qualitative research, policy analysis, and nutritional profiling of key seafood species, the study documents the central role of fishing and seafood in cultural identity, intergenerational knowledge transfer and community health. Key themes include respect for Elders, connection to Country, traditional medicinal knowledge and the contribution of fishing enterprises to economic and social wellbeing.
Nutritional analysis confirms that locally caught seafood provides essential nutrients that directly support physical health and food security in remote communities. However, policy analysis reveals that current coastal and fisheries policies rarely recognise these broader values, often focusing on economic development rather than holistic health outcomes. The report recommends that sector policies be revised to better integrate Indigenous values, prioritise food security objectives, and support self-determination in fisheries management. Practical outputs including a community booklet, educational poster and policy brief were developed to support knowledge transfer, community advocacy and policy engagement.
The findings highlight the importance of sustained investment and collaborative policy reform to ensure Indigenous fisheries meaningfully contribute to nutrition, health, and wellbeing, aligning with national strategies like Closing the Gap. Read the final report
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