About the LSMU

The key priorities of the TSRA Land & Sea Management Unit are to equip island communities and regional partners with the necessary skills, capacity, information, resources and technical support necessary to tackle the key environmental issues facing the Torres Strait.

The Land & Sea Management Unit's focus is to build on the foundations and successes of previous projects for the Torres Strait and to support the region to access TSRA funding, as well as funds from external sources including the Australian Government's Caring for our Country Program, Queensland's Q2 Coasts and Country Program, and the newly established National Environment Research Program (NERP) Tropical Ecosystems Hub.

Governance and Structure

The TSRA Portfolio Member for the Environment, Mr Walter Mackie plays a key role in developing policy and in representing the TSRA on issues relating to the Environment Portfolio.  Mr Mackie is also the TSRA Board Member for Iama (Yam) Island.

The following provides an overview of the land and sea management delivery arrangements within the Torres Strait:

• TSRA as a Regional Natural Resource Management (NRM) Body
• Land & Sea Management Strategy for Torres Strait
• Policy Framework for NRM in the Torres Strait
• Funding to implement land and sea initiatives

TSRA as a Regional Natural Resource Management (NRM) Body

The TSRA was invited by Australian and Queensland Government Ministers to manage the delivery of NRM programs in Torres Strait in 2005.  The TSRA established the Land & Sea Management Unit in 2006 to coordinate these functions, through the implementation of the Land & Sea Management Strategy for Torres Strait.  The Land & Sea Management Unit has rapidly become integral to TSRA's functions in the region.

The TSRA is an Australian Government statutory authority operating under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Act 2005 (Commonwealth).  The Authority is also identified as one of 56 regional bodies across Australia - fourteen of these are in Queensland.

Land & Sea Management Strategy for Torres Strait

The Land & Sea Management Strategy for Torres Strait was endorsed by the TSRA and Queensland and Australian Government Ministers in 2005.

The Strategy presents a unique opportunity to progress community based management of this unique region through identifying the important assets, issues, information and possible initiatives for supporting Torres Strait communities to sustainably manage their natural resources.

The Strategy also provides a framework to align Torres Strait land and sea initiatives with other regional, state and national priorities for natural resource management.

The Strategy aims to achieve the following objectives:

• Provision of a framework for the development of a coordinated, adaptive and integrated approach to environmental management in the region that identifies risks and gaps in knowledge, and addresses issues at a bioregional, ecosystem, island and species level.
• Improved approaches to Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal people consultation, input and decision making across all levels of government, in all areas of environmental management.
• Facilitation of improved coordination and administration by all three levels of government and multiple agencies responsible for supporting Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal people in sustainably managing the region.
• Promotion of improved communication and cooperation between Torres Strait Islander, Aboriginal and Papua New Guinea people in the sustainable management of their shared resources.
• Support for Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal people to develop and implement community based plans for managing their land and sea country resources, including involvement in monitoring and enforcement.
• Opportunities for Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal people to develop and implement community based environmental plans at the island or local level, consistent with Community Development Plans.
• Provision of sustainable employment in land and sea management fields, and economically and culturally appropriate economic development opportunities for Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal people.
• Introduction and strengthening of community education and awareness programs to ensure that traditional and local knowledge continues to complement and enhance regional environmental initiatives.
• Support and encouragement of capacity building and community based programs, such as Ranger Programs, to facilitate traditional and local management skills and approaches to land management, marine and coastal conservation, surveillance and monitoring.
• Maintenance, revitalisation and incorporation of the Traditional Ecological Knowledge of Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal people in environmental initiatives, including through community consultation and education strategies on the part of the scientific community.

Policy Framework for NRM in the Torres Strait

The Torres Strait is a politically complex region, with an international border and a Treaty governance regime that poses unique challenges for coordinating land and sea management initiatives. The Torres Strait Treaty, between Australia and Papua New Guinea, describes the boundaries between the two countries and how the sea area may be used.

Under the Treaty, a Protected Zone has been established to preserve and protect the land, sea and air of the Torres Strait, including the native plant and animal life. Torres Strait Islanders and the coastal people of Papua New Guinea are still allowed to carry out their traditional activities, including gardening, food collection, hunting, fishing, ceremonies, social gatherings and traditional trade within this area. The Treaty also ensures that commercial fishing activities within the Protected Zone remain in harmony with traditional fishing activities.

The Protected Zone Joint Authority (PZJA) is responsible for management of commercial and traditional fishing in the Australian area of the Torres Strait Protected Zone (TSPZ) and designated adjacent Torres Strait waters. The PZJA comprises the Commonwealth Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the Queensland Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries and the Chair of the Torres Strait Regional Authority. The PZJA meets on an annual basis. PZJA members are supported by a number of government agencies including the TSRA, Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation , Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) and Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA).

The following consultative mechanisms are also in place to progress the implementation of the Treaty:

• Traditional Inhabitants Meeting (TIM)
• Treaty Liaison Meeting (TLM)
• Environmental Management Committee (EMC)
• Joint Advisory Council (JAC)

There have been successful determinations of native title over all inhabited islands, and most of the uninhabited islands in Torres Strait.  Prescribed Bodies Corporate (PBCs) have been established under the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) to hold native title land on trust or as an agent for and on behalf of the native title holders.   PBCs presently have limited operating capacity and lack funding or other support to meet their corporate obligations and fulfil other aspirations as landholders and managers.   However, PBCs and Traditional Owners are primary stakeholders in any natural resource management initiatives occurring in the Torres Strait region.   The LSMU has recently accessed Natural Heritage Trust funding to deliver a project to support PBCs in accessing training to improve their governance and operations.

The Torres Strait Island Regional Council (TSIRC)  was established in March 2008 as a part of the Queensland Government’s statewide local government reform. It is a local government authority that replaces the former Island Coordinating Council (ICC) and 15 Island Community Councils. The TSIRC will be a key partner for the delivery of many natural resource management activities, and will also play a key role in providing administrative and logistical support for the delivery of a ranger program, including through the employment of Rangers.

The Torres Shire Council is another key delivery partner. Torres Shire Council administers the local government functions for Kaiwalagal (i.e. inner group of islands including  Waibene (Thursday Island), Ngurupai (Horn Island), Gealug (Friday Island), Mawai (Wednesday Island), Muralug (Prince of Wales), Palilug (Goods Island) and includes small islands near Cape York Peninsula.

The Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council (NPARC) administers the local government functions for the five communities of the Northern Peninsula Area of Cape York (i.e. Bamaga and Seisa, New Mapoon, Umagico and Injinoo). The NPARC was established in 2008 as a part of Queensland Government’s statewide local government reforms to amalgamate the five councils of the NPA.

Land and sea management activities in the Torres Strait are also guided by the following Australian Government and Queensland Government Acts:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984 (Cth)
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Act Amendment 2008 (Qld) 
• Coastal Protection and Management Act 1995 (Qld) 
• Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 1996 (Cth)
• Environmental Protection Act 1994 (Qld) 
• Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) 
• Fisheries Management Act 1991 (Cth) 
• Integrated Planning Act 1997 (Qld) 
• Land Act 1994 (Qld) 
• Land protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002 (Qld) 
• Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) 
• Natural Heritage Trust Act 1997 (Cth) 
• Natural Resource Management (Financial Assistance) Act 1992 (Cth) 
• Nature Conservation Act 1992 (Qld) 
• Pest Management Act 2001 (Qld) 
• Queensland Heritage Act 1992 (Qld) 
• Torres Strait Fisheries Act 1984 (Qld) 
• Torres Strait Islander Cultural Heritage Act 2003 (Qld) 
• Vegetation Management Act 1999 (Qld) 
• Water Act 2000 (Qld)

There are also a number of major international conventions relevant to the protection of the Torres Strait people and environment. These include:

• Basel Convention on Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal
• Climate Change Convention
• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
• Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (Bonn Convention)
• Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar Convention)
• Torres Strait Moratorium on Seabed Mining
• U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People 2007
• United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
• Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer (1985) (the Montreal Protocol 1987)

Land and sea management activities in the Torres Strait also align with the Australian Government’s Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage policy and the Queensland Government’s Partnerships Queensland - Looking After Country Together policy.

Funding to implement land and sea initiatives

The Land & Sea Management Unit receives funding from a range of sources to support the implementation of environmental initiatives in the Torres Strait, including:

• TSRA – funding to strengthen the economic, social and cultural development of the Torres Strait to improve the lifestyle and wellbeing of Torres Strait Islanders and Aboriginal people living in the region.
• Caring For Our Country Program – the Australian Government’s new natural resource management initiative (supersedes the Natural Heritage Trust program).
• NERP Tropical Ecosystems Hub – the Australian Government's National Environmental Research Program (NERP) is helping to maintain or build the health of the Torres Strait through the generation, transfer and sharing of research and knowledge.
• Non-Government Organisations and Philanthropy Programs – funding and/or other in-kind resources to support programs that provide a public benefit for the greater community.
• Queensland Government Agency Programs – supporting Queensland landholders, community groups and regional bodies undertaking natural resource management activities.
• North Australia Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance (NAILSMA) – supporting Traditional Owners and Indigenous communities to develop community-driven approaches to the sustainable management of dugong and marine turtle in northern Australia.