Draft Aboriginal Fishing Regulation

What’s this about?

The NSW Government is progressing a key election commitment, with a draft regulation to support Aboriginal people fishing for cultural purposes now open for public consultation. 

The draft Fisheries Management (General) Amendment (Aboriginal Cultural Fishing) Regulation 2024 (draft regulation) aims to support Aboriginal people and communities to fish for cultural purposes within a sustainable fisheries framework. 

The draft regulation amends the Fisheries Management (General) Regulation 2019 to insert a new schedule that prescribes daily take and possession limits for fish and invertebrates that recognise the spiritual, social and customary significance of fisheries resources to Aboriginal peoples. 

‘Aboriginal cultural fishing’ is defined in the Fisheries Management Act 1994 as “fishing activities and practices carried out by Aboriginal persons for the purpose of satisfying their personal, domestic or communal needs, or for educational, ceremonial or other traditional purposes, and which do not have a commercial purpose”. 

You can find further details on the draft regulation on the department's website where you can also register for an online information webinar.

Have your say

This consultation closed on 16 February 2025.