Indigenous Protected Areas Receive New Funding to Expand Sea Country Conservation

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water released a detailed report on 11 May 2026 describing how $11.6 million of Australian Government funding, allocated in April 2021, will be used to strengthen the Sea Country Indigenous Protected Areas (IPA) programme. The funding sits within the broader $100 million Oceans Leadership Package and supports both the expansion of existing marine IPAs and the establishment of new ones across New South Wales, the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia.

Key elements of the programme include a $9.7 million grant for direct project delivery and a $1.9 million allocation for programme administration. Together these resources aim to increase the total sea area under Indigenous protection to 3.6 million hectares, while also extending terrestrial coverage to 200 000 hectares. The report notes that the grants will underwrite a suite of on‑the‑ground actions, ranging from scientific monitoring of vulnerable species such as humpback whales, blue whales, southern right whales, dolphins, marine turtles, sawfish, crocodiles, dugongs and the Australian sea lion, to cultural activities like beach mapping and traditional burning.

Specific projects highlighted in the report include the construction of protective fencing around shorebird breeding sites, the establishment of a dedicated turtle‑monitoring programme, and the eradication of feral cats from islands known to host nesting seabirds and marine reptiles. Additional actions involve regular surveys of mangrove and seagrass health, biosecurity monitoring in Ramsar wetlands, and patrols of turtle nesting beaches. These measures are intended to enhance habitat quality, reduce predation pressure and provide robust data for future management decisions.

The programme also seeks to build capacity among Indigenous Rangers and youth. A Junior Sea Country Ranger programme will be rolled out alongside the development of a Sea Country IPA monitoring and evaluation system. Training and knowledge‑exchange activities are planned for delivery at the upcoming conference of Indigenous land and sea managers, with a focus on sharing best practices across the participating Aboriginal corporations and land councils.

Four Indigenous organisations are identified as primary partners in the grant round: Ngiyambandigay Wajaarr Aboriginal Corporation, Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, Gurnaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation and Karajarri Traditional Lands Association. Additional support comes from the Northern Land Council, Carpentaria Land Council, Aboriginal Lands Trust, Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre and Bundi Yamatji Aboriginal Corporation. These bodies will collaborate on cultural mapping of beaches, research on vulnerable marine species and the implementation of a cultural revitalisation programme with local schools.

While the report outlines a clear framework for immediate actions, it also flags uncertainty around long‑term financing once the grant period ends. The lack of guaranteed follow‑up funding could affect the sustainability of monitoring programmes and habitat‑restoration projects. Stakeholders are encouraged to explore alternative funding streams and to embed the outcomes of the current projects into broader regional marine‑management plans.

Overall, the 11 May 2026 report demonstrates a concerted effort by the Australian Government to embed Indigenous knowledge and stewardship within national marine‑conservation strategies. By coupling financial resources with community‑led initiatives, the Sea Country IPA programme seeks to protect critical marine habitats, support iconic species and foster a new generation of Indigenous custodians.

The report concludes with a call for continued collaboration, data sharing and adaptive management to ensure the long‑term resilience of Australia’s sea country.