Torres Strait Traditional Owners are leading a new research project to record customary fishing practices, with the aim of strengthening local control over marine resources and protecting culturally important fish stocks.
The project is being driven by Torres Strait Islander fishers and Traditional Owners, working alongside researchers from Charles Darwin University and the Australian Fisheries Management Authority, with funding support from the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation.
Unlike existing fisheries data systems which often rely on external reporting, the initiative is designed to place Torres Strait knowledge and leadership at the centre of how fishing information is collected and used.
Project co-leader Kenny Bedford said the work was about making sure communities had the tools to care for Sea Country on their own terms.
"For generations, our people have known when to fish, what to take and how to care for the sea," Mr Bedford said.
"This project is about making sure that knowledge is respected and reflected in the way fisheries are managed today."
The research documents customary fishing practices across the Torres Strait Islands, including seasonal patterns and the cultural context in which fishing takes place.
Mr Bedford said current fisheries systems often failed to reflect the realities of traditional fishing.
"A lot of the data governments rely on doesn't tell our story," he said.
"If we're going to protect fish stocks for our kids and grandkids, the data has to come from the people who live here and depend on these waters."
Community consultations and a pilot phase were carried out in 2023 and 2024, with further on-Country visits and data collection continuing this year.
Researchers involved in the project say it aims to create a culturally appropriate data system that supports food security and long-term sustainability, while reinforcing Torres Strait Islander authority over Sea Country.
A spokesperson said the approach marked a move away from top-down resource management.
"This is about communities leading the research questions, the methods and the outcomes," they said.
"It recognises Torres Strait Islanders as experts in their own fisheries."
