Indigenous rangers dive deep into care of GBR
Earlier this month Indigenous rangers from the Great Barrier Reef were given the chance to learn how to scuba dive and gain hands-on experience caring for the Reef.
The initiative was part of the Reef Joint Field Management Program, jointly funded by the Queensland and Australian Governments.
Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef Meaghan Scanlon said to date, sixteen Indigenous rangers from ten Traditional Owner groups had undertaken diver training with tourism operator Experience Co on Gunggandji and Yirrganydji Sea Country as part of the program.
“First Nations communities have been the custodians of their Country for more than 50,000 years – including on the Great Barrier Reef,” Minister Scanlon said.
“It’s only right that we continue to support opportunities for First Nations Peoples to care for Country and support their ambitions.
“As a government we take our responsibility to the reef seriously. We’ve invested close to $1 billion to protect the reef since 2015, and we’ll continue to do so by continuing to rollout our $270 million commitment made last budget.
“The open water and advanced diver training provided under the Reef Joint field Management Program starts Indigenous rangers on a journey to be able to conduct in-water works on Sea Country such as Reef Health and Impact Surveys, reef rehabilitation, crown-of-thorns starfish surveillance and visitor infrastructure maintenance.”
Following the completion of a pilot program in 2017, seventeen Indigenous rangers were accredited as Marine Inspectors to assist the Authority to protect the unique flora and fauna of the Reef.
Commonwealth Minister for the Environment Tanya Plibersek said it was exciting to see the rangers getting the diving licences they needed to be able to do hands-on management of the Great Barrier Reef.
“The diving skills learnt by the rangers during diver training will evolve into future opportunities – including future job opportunities,” Minister Plibersek said.
“But most importantly, it means that our First Nations Rangers have the skills needed to manage their Sea Country into the future.
“We have promised to double the number of indigenous rangers to 3,800 – they’re doing amazing work and we want to see more of them.
The Reef Joint Field Management Program is run in partnership by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.
The Program is committed to strengthening and enriching partnerships with First Nations people.