Blue Mud Bay

In July 2008, on the matter of the Blue Mud Bay Case, the High Court of Australia found that Aboriginal Land Trusts have the right to control access to waters overlying Aboriginal land in the intertidal zone.

In recognising that Tiwi people have a proud history of commerce, a Blue Mud Bay Settlement Deed was negotiated between the Northern Territory Government, the Tiwi Land Trust and the Tiwi Land Council. Signed in December 2014, a key objective of the Deed is to provide real and enduring economic and regional development opportunities for Tiwi people, with a focus on fisheries related enterprises and assets. These include, but are not limited to, recreational fishing, tourism opportunities, greater participation in commercial fishing through changes to Aboriginal Coastal Licences and fish traps, and assistance with aquaculture development.