Port Curtis Coral Coast TUMRA( Traditional Use Of Marine Resources)
The Port Curtis Coral Coast Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreement (PCCC TUMRA) is a formal community-based plan for the joint management of marine resources in the Great Barrier Reef. It is solely managed by the Gidarjil Development Corporation Limited, on behalf of the Traditional Owner groups of the region.
Here is a quick overview of its key facts before we explore the details:
AspectDetails
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Agreement Type: Accredited Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreement (TUMRA).
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Legal Manager: Gidarjil Development Corporation Limited, an Australian public company and registered charity.
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Traditional Owner Groups: Represents the Bailai, Gurang, Gooreng Gooreng, and Taribelang Bunda Peoples.
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Geographic Scope: Sea Country from the Burrum River to the area around Agnes Water, including waters off Bundaberg and Gladstone.
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Key Management Body: PCCC TUMRA Steering Committee, which includes Elders and Rangers.
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Primary GoalsIntegrate traditional knowledge with modern science to care for Sea Country, manage resources sustainably, and create social and economic opportunities.
Management and Governance
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The PCCC TUMRA is a legally recognized framework under the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act. It enables the Traditional Owners to work in formal partnership with the Australian and Queensland governments to manage activities on their Sea Country.
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The Gidarjil Development Corporation is the legal entity responsible for implementing the agreement. Day-to-day management is guided by a PCCC TUMRA Steering Committee, which includes representatives and Elders from the four Traditional Owner groups, and is often observed by Rangers, facilitating the sharing of traditional knowledge.
Cultural and Geographical Context
The agreement covers the Sea Country of the Port Curtis Coral Coast region. This area, managed by Gidarjil's Sea Rangers, extends from the Burrum River to Agnes Water. It represents a significant portion of the southern Great Barrier Reef and is noted as the fifth largest TUMRA of its kind.
Key Activities and Integration
The PCCC TUMRA's work combines cultural practice with contemporary science. Key initiatives include:
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Ranger Programs: Gidarjil runs extensive land and sea Ranger teams. They monitor threatened species like marine turtles and dugongs, care for coastal environments, and implement on-ground conservation.
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Cadet and Junior Ranger Program: This program trains the next generation, involving them in hands-on environmental monitoring and cultural immersion.
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Scientific Partnerships: A core project involved developing a Mangrove Management Plan with James Cook University. This trained Rangers in scientific monitoring to rehabilitate estuarine wetlands, crucial for improving Great Barrier Reef water quality.
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Broader Aspirations: The Steering Committee is working to establish an Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) over the same Sea Country. This aims to add further layers of protection guided by five cultural pillars: Language Lines, Song Lines, Creation Story, Trading Routes, and Lore.
Gidarjil Development Corporation works in partnership with the Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre (CMERC) in Gladstone on seagrass restoration
This collaboration is centered around the SeaGrow nursery at CMERC, a world-leading facility opened in November 2024 that Gidarjil's Indigenous Land and Sea Rangers help operate.
Details of the Partnership
The partnership involves several key activities and long-term goals. Here is a summary of their main collaborative work:
AspectDetails
Core ProjectThe SeaGrow seagrass restoration initiative in Gladstone.
Key PartnersGidarjil Development Corporation, CMERC (CQUniversity), Great Barrier Reef Foundation, Coles Group.
Gidarjil's RoleProviding Sea Rangers as research officers and experts; participating in flower and seed collection; integrating Traditional Knowledge.
Nursery TimelineThe world's largest seagrass nursery at CMERC was unveiled in 2024 after three years in development.
Long-term GoalTo support Gidarjil in establishing and managing the first Indigenous-owned and run seagrass nursery on the Great Barrier Reef.
The Importance of Seagrass Restoration
Seagrass meadows are critical to the health of the Great Barrier Reef. They provide food for endangered species like dugongs and turtles, improve water quality, and store significant amounts of "blue carbon," helping mitigate climate change.
Gidarjil has a long-standing commitment to caring for seagrass. Even before the CMERC partnership, their Sea Rangers led citizen science projects to monitor seagrass health in their Sea Country. The current collaboration aims to scale up restoration efforts by pioneering new, large-scale methods for growing and replanting seagrass.
A Personal Perspective
The partnership also creates meaningful opportunities for Gidarjil community members. Markeeta Sullivan, a Gidarjil Sea Ranger and Research Officer, plays a vital role in running the CMERC nursery. After a career as a chef, she transitioned to this work and now educates volunteers and the community on the importance of seagrass. For her, the work is about "caring for Country" and ensuring future generations can see animals like dugongs in a healthy marine system.
I hope this detailed look at the Gidarjil and CMERC partnership is helpful. If you're interested, I can provide more information about Gidarjil's other stewardship activities under the Port Curtis Coral Coast TUMRA, such as their turtle and dugong monitoring or mangrove management projects.