North Australian FISH FINDER TM forums

AFANT wish to advise that Traditional Owners for the Iwaidja Armurduk intertidal area gave consent on the 23rd June to extend permit-free fishing access for 12 months, until the 30 June 2017.

The intertidal area is from the Coburg Marine Park to Kakadu National Park and includes Coopers Creek and other tidal rivers in the area. Rules for access follow:
• The Agreement allows for recreational fishers to enter the tidal waters over Aboriginal Land without a permit.
• The Agreement does not allow entry to Sacred Sites or onto Aboriginal Land, including beaches and riverbanks. An Authority Certificate to access sites or a Permit to access land is required respective the relevant Acts.
• any land base fishing activity, including camping, fishing from the bank, processing catch, requires a permit through normal NLC processes.
• Fishers are permitted to access boat landings and townships without a permit under common law, but are required to get a permit if transiting through Aboriginal land to access landings or towns.
• Access does not include non-tidal waters and rivers over Aboriginal land unless granted by permit.
• Fishers must abide to rules and regulations of the NT Fisheries Act

The Northern Land Council is currently working with the Northern Territory Government to finalise the conditions of the extension, which have been accepted in-principle to date. While the Agreement is being formalised, the Northern Land Council has extended the previous permit-free Licence Deed in good-faith and advises that these terms may be subject to change dependant on the final outcome of the Agreement between parties.