If he could, Darumbal traditional custodian Malcolm Mann would spend every minute of his life on his aquamarine Sea Country, which stretches across swathes of Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef.
“That’s where I’m most comfortable, on the water. That’s where I prefer to be,” he told NITV's The Point.
“It heals you."
It remains true even as he watches climate change impact on his beloved Country, both the animals and environment.
“Sea Country... means more than just a postcard. It means your identity, your place, your belonging, and with that comes responsibility.”
Darumbal custodian Malcolm Mann says he would spend every minute on the water if he could. Source: Supplied: Tanisha Stanton
Traditional knowledge taking control
Malcolm was born in Brisbane but spent most of his childhood on his Darumbal Country, living in Ogmore, where his dad and uncle showed him the laws, and lore, of the land and sea.
After studying environmental science at university, Malcolm became a marine parks ranger, using the cultural knowledge passed to him to take care of Country.
It's Malcolm's turn now to pass on that knowledge to the next generation of Darumbal youth, and with the recent signing of a TUMRA (traditional use of marine resources activities), he knows his Country will be in safe hands.
The TUMRA is a three-way agreement with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and the Department of Environment and Science, which will give the Darumbal people a greater say in managing a 36,000 square kilometre stretch of their Sea Country.
People gathering at Emu Park to celebrate the Darumbal TUMRA. Source: Supplied: Tanisha Stanton
Effects of climate change obvious
Malcolm says it has come just in time.
“Intensive land use has changed a lot of these creeks, rivers and... it’s become highly silted up around the place,” he told NITV's The Point.
“It’s changed the abundance of species too, in areas. There were fish everywhere and now they are gone.”
Under the TUMRA agreement, the Darumbal people will be able to put in place their traditional laws and customs for their sea country, which are based around sustainability.
John Tapim, from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, says the agreement will also open up other opportunities for the Darumbal people.
Darumbal people worry about the current state of their sea country. Source: Supplied: Tanisha Stanton
“The driver behind it is mob wanting to look after their Sea Country, wanting to instill, protect and continue to practice their laws and customs through their agreements, their way,” Mr Tapin said.
“We support ranger groups to get out on Country to monitor sea grass, water quality, mangrove watch, turtle and dugong tagging, there’s a whole range of things.
“And it really is up to the Traditional Owners and what they want to do with their agreements, and every single one is different.”
Darumbal Elder Aunty Sally Vea Vea said the deal was 18 years in the making.
People form a semi-circle on the beach to pay respect for the Elders who fought for the TUMRA but didn’t get to see it come to fruition. Source: Supplied: Tanisha Stanton
“It’s been an emotional journey that we’ve been through but there was always a goal at the end," she told The Point.
On a personal front, Ms Vea Vea has overfishing in her sights.
“We want to fish sustainably so that our stocks are kept and we can go out and get the fish when it's in season.
“If you don’t have a TUMRA in place people will just go out and do what they want to do.”
This year the United Nations will consider whether the Great Barrier Reef should be classified as “in danger” because of escalating impacts of climate change.
Malcolm Mann with the Darumbal rangers who will be taking care of both the sea and land country. Source: Supplied: Tanisha Stanton
But Mr Mann says traditional custodians have known this for a long time.
“I tell you what, you spend time with some of the old people out on Country and some of their knowledge will blow scientists out of the park,” he says.
“We already know that our Country is sick. We’ve known that for a very long time.”
Uncle Bill Mann has also seen devastating change working for years as a ranger on Country.
“Within the last 20 years I reckon, everything started to go downhill.
Uncle Bill with his wife and grandchildren at their home in Rockhampton. Source: Supplied: Tanisha Stanton
“When it gets hot temperatures from climate change, that knocks a lot of sea grass.
“Also... that coral bleaching, I’ve seen that happen a few times.
"Everything turns white and loses all its colour."
He says it’s only right that traditional custodians are being given a greater say in the management of the Country.
“They are the real conservationists, First Nations peoples, and that goes back thousands of years,” Uncle Mann said.
“They are the original conservationists – none of that (coral bleaching) ever happened before the white fulla came.”
For more on this story, tune in to The Point at 7.30pm Tonight on NITV.
