The South Coast of New South Wales is famed for its sapphire waters and internationally acclaimed seafood -- its oysters, lobsters and abalone.
Fishing has been carried out on this coastline for millennia. There's evidence of middens here dating back 20,000 years.
The South Coast Aboriginal people have a native title claim pending for this stretch of coast from south of Botany Bay to Eden, near the Victorian border. It's a few years off, but it looks likely that they'll get it.
But in the meantime, the Salt Water people feel like they're being harassed, persecuted and prevented from engaging in their cultural fishing.
Fishing is a big part of life on Salt Water country. But over three decades First Nations fishers have been prosecuted under laws designed to maintain the sustainability of fisheries.
This is the beauty about my mob: we're a stubborn mob, and it's in us to keep going back. And if they didn't and we let this government in New South Wales keep intimidating us and prosecuting us, that could have severed our Native Title.
- Wally Stewart, Salt Water Elder and Cultural Fishing activist
Voice of Real Australia speaks to Aboriginal People who are fighting to maintain their right to fish their traditional waters.
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Laura Carolina Corrigan
Canberra Times producer with a background in news and podcasts.
Canberra Times producer with a background in news and podcasts.
