The Great Barrier Reef is one of the natural wonders of the world, a National Heritage site and World Heritage area, famous for its beauty and amazing biodiversity. Traditional Owners have cared for, protected and used the Reef’s resources sustainably going back thousands of years. The Lama Lama people, along with other coastal people, are known as saltwater people, we have maintained a long-standing cultural association with the coastal areas, the waters, off-shore islands and reefs of Princess Charlotte Bay.
The Sea, and its natural resources, and our identity as Traditional Owners are inseparable. Our ancestors have always hunted and fished our sea Country and we continue our cultural practices handed on through our traditions and lore.
The Lama Lama people through collaboration with the Australian Government – Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) and the Queensland Government, established a Traditional Use of Marine Resource Agreement (TUMRA) over traditional Lama Lama waters, a modern commitment to these traditional practices.
This agreement sets out how we will work together to protect and manage significant marine resources in the Lama Lama Sea Country area in particular marine turtle and dugong species.
The agreement recognises Traditional Owner conservation and cultural values and priorities and the important connection saltwater peoples have to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and the role Aboriginal custodians continue to play in its future management.
Our Lama Lama TUMRA region extends from the mouth of the Massey River through Princess Charlotte Bay to the Normanby River in the south, and includes off shore islands and reefs. This agreement was accredited in August 2013 and allows the Lama Lama people to enforce compliance within the designated Lama Lama TUMRA region though land, sea and aerial patrols. It has also supported Lama Lama to connect with Research institutions in order to develop research programs.
Lama Lama Rangers in partnership with both Government agencies undertake regular compliance activities including land and sea patrols, monitoring of significant areas, coordination of a traditional owner hunting permit system and monitoring of commercial and recreational fishing.
