Pearling deal a first for native title

Children Joined in the festivities

The growth of the pearling industry across the northern Australian coastline reached a new milestone in November with the signing of the Northern Territory’s first seas-only native title pearling agreement in the Cobourg Peninsula/Croker Island region.

The signing ceremony took place at Minjilang on Croker Island on 18 November, accompanied by a colourful display of song and dance by the community’s men, women and children.

Croker Island traditional owner and Mandilarri elder Mary Yarmirr said the signing of the agreement was "the best deal we have ever struck", with benefits including both royalties and employment and training opportunities.

This is a terrific day for us. This is the first time a pearling company has recognised native title rights over sea country in the Top End.

When I talk about sea country, I am not talking only about the waters of the sea. I am talking about the sea bed and the reefs, and the fish and the animals in the sea, and our fishing and hunting grounds, and the air and the clouds above the sea, and about our sacred sites and ancestral beings who created all the country.

It is important that all this is protected and treated with respect, and I congratulate Broome Pearls for their recognition of our rights and traditions.

Ms Yarmirr

Mary Yamirr (centre) with family members

Other traditional owners to welcome the deal included Ronald Lami-Lami, Reuben Cooper and Nancy Rotumah.

Despite whatever difficulties we may have had in the past, it is now very important that we all move ahead together.

Mr Cooper

Mr Lami-Lami said the signing ceremony marks a day of respect for our people, whether you are Indigenous or non-Indigenous.

We have a goal to achieve and by reaching that goal is to respect ourselves, he said.

The four-year agreement clears the way for Broome Pearls to establish pearl farming operations free of native title concerns on three Crown leases over seabed near Valencia Island, in Mountnorris Bay and in Malay Bay. One of the leases has already been granted and the other two are expected to be granted shortly.

In return native title holders will have extra rights to ensure environmental and sacred site rules are upheld, and they will also be offered training and employment opportunities.

Broome Pearls laid the first oyster shells on the seabed off the Cobourg Peninsula in July and hopes to harvest the first pearls within two years. Full production will be achieved after four years of operation.

Broome Pearls director Professor George Kailis said his company had always valued its relationships with traditional owners with a long record in this regard in the NT and Western Australia.

Very early on in our negotiations we said we wanted a genuine partnership with tradtional owners. We want to be good neighbours, we want our business to prosper and we want traditional owners to share in the benefits of that business.
These waters in particular are ideal, being a long way from sources of pollution. Pearl oysters don’t like to have too much silt in the marine environment, so they like fairly clear waters but waters with plenty of nutrients.
Some of the protected coves and bays along here are really perfect for pearl culture.

Professor George Kailis

NLC Deputy Chair John Daly said the Land Council would continue to help traditional owners manage their relationship with Broome Pearls.

This agreement delivers substantial opportunities for traditional owners living on their land and, hopefully, will serve as a model for similar agreements in the future, he said. The NLC has made economic independence for Aboriginal people in its area a top priority.