Aboriginal communities have property rights for 85% of the Northern Territory’s coastline, with respect to the Aboriginal Land Rights (NT) Act 1976. This significant asset that is unique to the rest of Australia provides an important opportunity for communities to create niche markets and build their capacity around providing services to and engaging directly in the fishing and seafood sectors. However, these mostly remote Aboriginal communities have limited capacity to access to services and expertise that is needed to assist them in their planning and development of commercial interests.

The Aboriginal led Wurrahiliba Management Committee for the region from Roper River to Robinson River in the Gulf of Carpentaria has identified a clear need for instruments that will assist the local community in developing sustainable and low risk business investments that enhance local fishing activity and community participation through jobs and enterprises. Any achievements toward this will assist Aboriginal communities in realising the benefits from their unique property right.

While the focus of the project is in the Gulf region, the approach taken in addressing local needs would easily transfer to other regions, both in the Northern Territory and nationally. The tools applied to build the capacity of Aboriginal people in determining business opportunities provides a useful model that could be reshaped, based on local aspirations, and applied in other regions where communities are similarly struggling to consolidate ideas and identify the steps and support services necessary to start up small business in supporting local economies generated by fishing and seafood sectors.