NLC STATEMENT: Statement from the Northern Land Council on fishing access in the Finniss River area
The Northern Land Council (NLC) has continued to receive multiple reports of unlawful fishing access beyond the Finnis River Closure Line, the Little Finniss River and Fog Bay coastline. We remind all commercial fishers, recreational fishers and fishing tour operators that they are required to abide by the 2021 decision by Traditional Aboriginal Owners to close the intertidal waters of the Delissaville/Wagait/Larrakia Aboriginal Land Trust to allow for sustainable management of their sea country. This ensures the area is protected and preserved in a sustainable way for the environment, future generations and most importantly Aboriginal people who maintain deep cultural connections to these waters. The NLC will continue to engage with Traditional Aboriginal Owners around access and management of sea country, and work with the Northern Territory Government to ensure Aboriginal people have a stronger and direct role in marine resource management. This includes improved regulation of fisheries and strengthened compliance measures to address unlawful access to Aboriginal Land and Waters In 2024, the NLC installed two marine buoys, located at 12° 53.12’ S, 130° 22.3968’ E, to clearly mark where the Finniss River wholly enters Aboriginal land. This closure line is approximately five kilometres upstream from the mouth of the Finniss River. The entirety of the Little Finniss River is within Aboriginal land and waters, which also extend to the low tide mark of the Land Trust coastline. There are also signs at Dundee Beach boat ramp explaining the access rules. The NLC has written directly to individuals and groups who continue to unlawfully access Aboriginal land and waters and reiterates that commercial fishers, fishing tour operators and recreational fishers must respect this decision by Traditional Owners. This area is currently closed to all fishing activity. Entering or remaining on Aboriginal land without a proper permit or licence is a criminal offence under Aboriginal Land Act 1978 (NT) and the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act. The Land Council has no record of any valid permits, or agreements under section 19 of the Land Rights Act, which lawfully authorises access for recreational fishing, commercial fishing or fishing tourism operations on the Land Trust. Compliance will be actively monitored, and breaches may result in enforcement action. Ranger groups continue to undertake education and compliance patrols in the area. These patrols have previously resulted in fines being issued to recreational fishers who accessed the Finniss and Little Finniss Rivers without permits. Permit-free fishing continues to apply to key fishing areas around Darwin and Bynoe Harbours as well as the Daly River, Anson Bay, Nhulunbuy, Port Keats and McArthur River regions, based on existing agreements between TOs, the NLC, and the NT Government. Outside of these areas, a permit is required for recreational fishing in Aboriginal waters, which can be applied for on the NLC website. Up-to-date information on access to the Finniss River and other Sea Country in the NLC’s regions is available at http://www.nlc.org.au/recreationalfishing . Commercial operators and fishing tour operators wanting to use Aboriginal land and waters are encouraged
Black News 
The Northern Land Council (NLC) has continued to receive multiple reports of unlawful fishing access beyond the Finnis River Closure Line, the Little Finniss River and Fog Bay coastline.
We remind all commercial fishers, recreational fishers and fishing tour operators that they are required to abide by the 2021 decision by Traditional Aboriginal Owners to close the intertidal waters of the Delissaville/Wagait/Larrakia Aboriginal Land Trust to allow for sustainable management of their sea country.
This ensures the area is protected and preserved in a sustainable way for the environment, future generations and most importantly Aboriginal people who maintain deep cultural connections to these waters.
The NLC will continue to engage with Traditional Aboriginal Owners around access and management of sea country, and work with the Northern Territory Government to ensure Aboriginal people have a stronger and direct role in marine resource management.
This includes improved regulation of fisheries and strengthened compliance measures to address unlawful access to Aboriginal Land and Waters
In 2024, the NLC installed two marine buoys, located at 12° 53.12’ S, 130° 22.3968’ E, to clearly mark where the Finniss River wholly enters Aboriginal land. This closure line is approximately five kilometres upstream from the mouth of the Finniss River.
The entirety of the Little Finniss River is within Aboriginal land and waters, which also extend to the low tide mark of the Land Trust coastline.
There are also signs at Dundee Beach boat ramp explaining the access rules.
The NLC has written directly to individuals and groups who continue to unlawfully access Aboriginal land and waters and reiterates that commercial fishers, fishing tour operators and recreational fishers must respect this decision by Traditional Owners. This area is currently closed to all fishing activity.
Entering or remaining on Aboriginal land without a proper permit or licence is a criminal offence under Aboriginal Land Act 1978 (NT) and the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act.
The Land Council has no record of any valid permits, or agreements under section 19 of the Land Rights Act, which lawfully authorises access for recreational fishing, commercial fishing or fishing tourism operations on the Land Trust.
Compliance will be actively monitored, and breaches may result in enforcement action.
Ranger groups continue to undertake education and compliance patrols in the area. These patrols have previously resulted in fines being issued to recreational fishers who accessed the Finniss and Little Finniss Rivers without permits.
Permit-free fishing continues to apply to key fishing areas around Darwin and Bynoe Harbours as well as the Daly River, Anson Bay, Nhulunbuy, Port Keats and McArthur River regions, based on existing agreements between TOs, the NLC, and the NT Government.
Outside of these areas, a permit is required for recreational fishing in Aboriginal waters, which can be applied for on the NLC website.
Up-to-date information on access to the Finniss River and other Sea Country in the NLC’s regions is available at http://www.nlc.org.au/recreationalfishing .
Commercial operators and fishing tour operators wanting to use Aboriginal land and waters are encouraged to submit an expression of interest for a section 19 agreement. Further information is available at https://www.nlc.org.au/agreements#SEAUSEAGREEMENTS
For further information please contact the NLC at media@nlc.org.au
