Perth, Australia – A network of Traditional Owner groups is steadily increasing its role in managing sections of the Great Barrier Reef. Eighteen Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities now hold formal agreements that guide how their Sea Country is cared for alongside government agencies. The changes reflect broader shifts in how the World Heritage Site is stewarded, with recent recognition from the World Heritage Committee.
Agreements Shape Joint Management
Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreements, known as TUMRAs, form the core of this approach. These community-led plans set out rules for resource use, monitoring, and protection that draw on long-standing Indigenous knowledge. They operate within the larger framework of reef conservation but give local groups clearer authority over activities in their waters.
Progress has been uneven. Some areas still lack full Indigenous involvement in decision-making. Yet the number of active agreements and the capacity of participating groups have both risen over the past three decades.
Capability and Capacity Grow
Allan Dale, a professor at James Cook University, notes that governing structures have strengthened considerably. More rangers, planners, and leaders now work within Traditional Owner organizations. This expansion allows groups to pursue their own priorities while contributing to reef-wide goals.
The increase in trained personnel and formal land and sea reservations has been particularly noticeable. These developments support day-to-day management and longer-term planning that incorporates cultural values alongside scientific data.
Local Voices Drive the Work
Mercy Singleton, a Yirrganydji woman and director at Dawul Wuru Aboriginal Corporation, describes the reef as a living underwater garden that her people want to keep safe and help recover. Her organization is one of many now embedded in the management system.
Scientists and Indigenous governance bodies alike point to these partnerships as evidence that inclusion is advancing, even as gaps remain. The focus stays on practical steps that respect both cultural authority and ecological needs.
What Comes Next
Further growth will depend on continued investment in training and on closing remaining participation gaps. The trajectory suggests Traditional Owners will hold an even larger share of day-to-day responsibility in coming years. That shift is already altering how protection and tourism activities are coordinated across parts of the reef.
