Cashing in on Culture? What’s Really Happening in Our Fisheries

In Australia's complex fisheries landscape, the term Cultural Fishing is increasingly being used — and misused — in both policy and public discourse. Understanding what it actually means, and how it differs from recreational and commercial fishing, is vital for anyone concerned with fairness, resource access, and the future of our seafood industry.

What Is Cultural Fishing?

Cultural Fishing refers to the non-commercial, traditional fishing practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. These practices are part of a broader cultural relationship with land and sea — encompassing food gathering, knowledge sharing, and community support.

In jurisdictions like New South Wales, Cultural Fishing is defined under Section 21AA of the Fisheries Management Act 1994. It permits Aboriginal people to take fish for cultural purposes without a recreational licence, provided the catch is not sold or traded.

This is not recreational fishing, and it’s not commercial fishing. It’s a category of its own — one that must be clearly understood, and more importantly, not politically exploited.

Why It’s Different from Recreational Fishing

While both cultural and recreational fishing involve catching fish outside of commercial operations, the purpose, context, and intent are entirely different.

• Recreational fishers fish for sport, enjoyment, or personal consumption.

• Cultural fishers fish to maintain customary practices, support community events, and pass down generational knowledge.

Cultural fishing is not about bag limits or sportfishing photos. It is about sustaining cultural identity, often through group-based, ceremonial, or kinship-oriented activities. It is also explicitly non-commercial.

Why It’s Different from Commercial Fishing

Commercial fishers operate under a strict and costly regulatory regime, including:

• Licences, endorsements, and quota systems

• Daily and seasonal reporting requirements

• Inspections and audits

• Significant investment in vessels, gear, insurances, and compliance

Commercial fishing is a business — one that puts Australian seafood on the plates of millions, supports regional economies, and underpins national food security.

Cultural fishing, by law, is not for sale. It does not supply markets, and it is not permitted to generate profit. When these lines are crossed, it’s not a matter of cultural interpretation — it’s a legal and ethical breach of purpose.

The Problem: Policy Confusion — and Program Distortion

What began as a legitimate recognition of cultural practice has now morphed into a concerning trend: the use of public funds, under the banner of Cultural Fishing, to acquire commercial fishing businesses.

Across Australia, government-funded cultural fishing grants are being awarded to Aboriginal organisations, who in turn offer financial support to purchase existing commercial licences and endorsements.

This is being promoted as “empowering cultural fishers.”

But let’s be crystal clear:

Operating a commercial vessel and selling catch to the market is not Cultural Fishing. It is Commercial Fishing — with or without a grant.

These publicly funded buyouts are not about traditional practice. They are about building commercial capacity without commercial risk — something no other sector of the seafood industry is afforded.

Undermining the Market and Dividing the Industry

These grant-funded acquisitions pose a number of serious problems:

• They distort the commercial seafood market by artificially inflating demand for shares.

• They undercut existing operators who must self-fund their businesses.

• They blur the legal definition of cultural fishing, opening the door for future compliance disputes.

• And they risk public trust, as taxpayers begin to question whether their support for cultural rights is being redirected into what are clearly commercial activities.

Commercial businesses should be sold on the open market, not quietly handed over via government-backed cultural grants that bypass the core obligations of commercial participation.

Cultural Fishing Should Be Respected — Not Repurposed

No one is arguing against the existence or continuation of genuine cultural fishing. It has a defined legal basis and a clear social role.

But when governments and interest groups repackage commercial fishing as cultural, and use that rebranding to access grants, avoid competition, and bypass compliance frameworks, the integrity of both sectors is compromised.

This is not about inclusion — it’s about exemption without scrutiny, and preferential access without accountability.

A Call for Transparency and Fairness

Governments must:

• Clarify and uphold the legal definition of Cultural Fishing

• Ensure grant programs are not used to facilitate commercial acquisitions

• Require equal regulatory and financial responsibility for all commercial operators — regardless of ownership

Anything less is a betrayal of good governance, fair trade, and the public’s expectation of honesty in how our fisheries are managed.

Let Cultural Fishing be what it is — a protected, non-commercial, community tradition.

And let Commercial Fishing remain what it must be — a regulated, professional supply chain built on risk, compliance, and skill.