Traditional Use

Traditional owners taking part in seagrass surveys. Photo: CRC Reef

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have lived adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and World Heritage Area for in excess of fifty thousand years. Contemporary Indigenous interests in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area arise from long standing cultural association with, and use of, the coastal and marine environments of the World Heritage Area.

The marine environment is an integral part of the lives and culture of Indigenous people who to this day, continue to identify themselves as traditional owners and custodians of sea estates. Coastal Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a keen interest in being involved in marine management, research and decision-making for the Great Barrier Reef. Several communities adjacent to the park have initiated co-management processes with managing agencies.

Marine resources fulfil various social, cultural and economic needs and give strength to culture and demonstrate affiliation with tradition and traditional areas. They have given Indigenous people a practical understanding of the natural history and habitats of marine animals and sea areas.

Different aspects of the marine environment are also depicted in the story-telling, art, spirituality, music, dance and subsistence activities of coastal Indigenous people. These customs are testimony to living cultural values and a way of life for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.