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TORRES NEWS
News & events of the Kaurareg homeland of Kaiwalagal, the Torres Strait homeland, and Cape York homelands of the Anggamuthi, Atambaya, Wuthathi, Yadhaykenu and Gudang Peoples
14 - 20 April 2014 • Thursday Island • www.torresnews.com.au • editor@torresnews.com.au • Edition No. 1111 • $2.00 inc. GST
ABOVE: Eric Peter (TSRA Member for Boigu), Cr Dimas Toby, Alicia Sabatino, Ishmael Gibuma, Nemiah Marama, Gadu Banu, Aaron Anau and Christine Gibuma show Senator Richard Colbeck around Boigu. LEFT: Senator Nigel Scullion inspecting the crayfish factory on Badu Island.
PZJA agrees with 100% ownership By AARON SMITH TRADITIONAL Fishers to own 100 per cent of the Torres Strait Fishery was agreed by the Protected Zone Joint Authority (PZJA) meeting on April 9 on Thursday Island as its primary priority. Chair of the PZJA, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture, Senator Richard Colbeck, Queensland Minister for Fisheries Dr John McVeigh and guest of the PZJA, Senator Nigel Scullion, Federal Minister
of Indigenous Affairs, all agreed 100 per cent fisheries ownership by traditional fishers is the goal they will be working towards. The meeting occurred the day after the stakeholder forum which the PZJA attended to listen to concerns of traditional fishers. Senator Colbeck said the next step will be to “develop a road map of how the community might get to 100 per cent ownership.” “The fact that the PZJA hasn’t had a meeting up here since 2008, probably showed out a bit. “I plan to have more regular
meetings up in the region from now on rather than doing it remotely,” he said. Mr Elu said holding the meeting in the Torres Strait was an important part of the PZJA respecting our Ailan Kastom and recognising and understanding both the region and its people. “The Chair of the PZJA, Ministers and delegates have all gained invaluable insights into the Torres Strait and how important the fisheries industry is to us by meeting here,” Mr Elu said. Continued Page 4 >>