Following a meeting with the Numberindi people on 5 February 1998, agreement was reached to:

• continue with a fisheries committee in a less formal manner; and to;
• run the two committees together rather than separate meetings.

The committee(s) have been able to successfully address many of the needs of the local people, fishermen and Government. The committee(s) have faced recent challenges in amenably resolving the issue of the incidental capture/deaths of dugongs by commercial barramundi fishers. This has seen some very positive cooperation from the barramundi fishing industry.

The Tiwi Coastal Waters Consultative Committee (TCWCC), established in August 1995, continues to meet regularly.

There has been excellent dialogue between parties culminating in the development of a barramundi farming project centred at Port Hurd, consideration of a prawn farming project and the establishment of recreational fishers camping sites, all of which have the potential to contribute to the economic development of the Tiwi peoples.

To counteract the increase in recreational fishers frequenting the Tiwi Islands, Fisheries Division, Northern Territory Police Marine and Fisheries Enforcement Unit and the Tiwi have entered into a joint program appointing a Tiwi Marine Ranger.

The role of the Tiwi Marine Ranger is to carry out surveillance work and reporting to the Northern Territory Police and the TCWCC. This trial will be closely monitored by Government to evaluate its existence and the possibility of expanding such a program across the Northern Territory.

The Mangalpu Fisheries Committee (Western Australian border to the Finniss River) was established in June 1998. This committee appears to be meeting the needs of the local people.

Concerns were raised by Mangalpu members regarding the continual illegal trespass onto Aboriginal land and the transgression over sacred sites. This has resulted in discussions between the Mangalpu Fisheries Committee and the Amateur Fishermen's Association of the Northern Territory to look at the establishment of recreational fishers campsites. This would go a long way in encouraging recreational fishers to avoid sacred sites and other areas of significance.

The Manbuynga ga Rulyapa Consultative Committee (Elcho, Wessels and English Company's Islands) was established in August 1997.

The Committee continues to meet regularly and appears to be meeting the needs of the local people. The Department of Regional Development, Primary Industry, Fisheries and Resources has legislated a possession limit for rock lobsters as a result of concerns raised by Manbuynga ga Rulyapa members of possible local stock depletion from over fishing by recreational fishermen in the English Company's Islands. The Manbuynga ga Rulyapa has also began the establishment of two recreational fishers camping sites.

The Beagle Gulf Fisheries Committee (BGFC) was formally established in April 1999.

Meetings are held in Darwin. Some of the key issues discussed at these meetings include the involvement of Aboriginal people in Fisheries Enforcement and the wasted by-catch from commercial barramundi fishers.

Fisheries Division recently worked with Territory Health Services on a shellfish study of the Darwin Harbour region.

This came when concerns were raised by BGFC members regarding sewerage effluent release and reports from Aboriginal people in the area about illness after eating shellfish and other marine species. Results of the study are not yet complete.

One of the major issues in the Groote Eylandt region is that of marine debris. This has resulted in beach clean ups and surveys as well as an interest from World Wide Fund For Nature Australia to run continual clean ups and negotiate with overseas businesses and agencies to stop the problem at the source.