00:02It's a long-standing tradition, but cultural fishing has seen three generations of Aboriginal
00:08divers facing fines and jail time.
00:11I've been to court around four times.
00:15It's not a good look for our culture and it scares a lot of the next generation to do
00:19what we do.
00:20After a high-profile prosecution collapsed this February, cultural fishers are a step
00:26closer to securing their sea rights.
00:28But they have another battle ahead.
00:30The fight to save their sea country from ecological collapse.
00:34The native long-spined sea urchin has transformed 50% of nearshore reefs in southern New South
00:40Wales from lush kelp forests to barren wastelands.
00:44They don't just eat the seaweed, they eat all the sponges, all the other invertebrates and
00:48we know that these barrens are still increasing in size.
00:51But there's a potential solution and Aboriginal custodians are taking the lead.
00:56The New South Wales Government is now backing a plan for an Aboriginal-led sea urchin fishery
01:01here on the south coast.
01:03With a $1.48 million grant to develop indigenous branded sea urchin products and to streamline
01:08processing.
01:10With the threat of jail behind them, young Walbunja divers John and Denzel Carriage are now training
01:15to be professional sea urchin divers.
01:18We've been working on a restoration plan for the last four years.
01:21This is basically the start of it.
01:22There's an opportunity here to train these young fellows into an industry that's going
01:26to be around forever.
01:27This is our sea country and we've always wanted to take care of it and I'm very passionate
01:33for what I'm going to do.
01:36Embracing tradition to help safeguard the future.
01:39For more information, please visit our website.
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