Royal Australian Navy sailors and officers have marked the 17th Sea Rights anniversary at Bäniyala in the Northern Territory, joining Yolŋu leaders in a ceremony honouring the 2008 Blue Mud Bay High Court decision.

Senior Yolŋu Elder, Traditional Owner and internationally recognised artist, Dr Djambawa Marawili, said the anniversary reflected the community's enduring connection to sea Country and the unity it inspires.

At his invitation, Yolŋu leaders and allies placed spears together at the Sea Rights Yingapuyŋapu memorial, each representing an individual Yolŋu clan.

For the first time, Navy took part in the ceremony by contributing a ship's anchor as a cultural offering.

The anchor was placed alongside the spears as a sign of respect and shared purpose.

Navy Indigenous Adviser Commander, Michael Henry, said the anchor was chosen for its symbolism of hope, strength and security, reflecting the values Navy and Yolŋu people hold in common.

"Unveiling the anchor was a powerful acknowledgement of the values we share with the Yolŋu people and affirms our ongoing commitment to the spirit of Sea Rights," Commander Henry said.

The anniversary marks the High Court decision confirming Traditional Owners of Aboriginal-owned Northern Territory coastline have exclusive access rights to tidal waters overlying their land.

The ruling set a major legal precedent for sea rights in Australia and was the result of years of advocacy by the Bäniyala community.

Home to about 150 Yolŋu people, Bäniyala played a central role in the case.

For Aboriginal people, sea Country carries the same cultural importance as land, with sacred sites, songlines and ancestral knowledge embedded in the waters.

The tidal areas also sustain livelihoods for many living in remote coastal communities.

Deputy Chief of Navy, Rear Admiral Matthew Buckley, attended the anniversary last month alongside other Navy representatives after a week of cultural immersion activities with community members.

These included learning about Yolŋu traditions, participating in cultural discussions, and spending time on Country.

"It is a tremendous honour for the Navy to be invited to take part in another Sea Rights anniversary at Bäniyala," Rear Admiral Buckley said.

"Our presence here strengthens the shared connection to the sea we have with First Australians, in the spirit of Sea Rights."

The ceremony took place at the Sea Rights Yingapuyŋapu, a permanent sand sculpture memorial located on the Bäniyala foreshore as the space is used for reflection, knowledge sharing and peacemaking, and each major occasion renews the memorial both physically and culturally.

The unity displayed at the memorial symbolised a shared intent to protect and preserve sea Country for future generations.

The inclusion of Navy's anchor added a new layer to the cultural demonstration, representing steadfastness and a safe harbour in times of difficulty.

Navy's engagement with Sea Rights initiatives has grown in recent years where in 2024, it committed to co-designing a Saltwater Leadership Program with the Bäniyala community, scheduled for September 2025.

The program aims to build enduring relationships between Navy and First Nations peoples by bringing together combined teams of Navy personnel and community members to complete an immersive leadership task.

The initiative is expected to provide a unique opportunity to exchange knowledge and skills, blending maritime experience with cultural understanding in a way that strengthens ties and mutual respect.