Torres Strait Islanders secure fishing rights

The High Court of Australia has confirmed the existence of commercial fishing rights under native title law.

Torres Strait Islanders secure fishing rights

It's another landmark victory for Torres Strait islanders, who established native title with the Mabo case 21 years ago.

 

The fishing rights were first recognised by the federal court in 2010 in the Torres Strait sea claim determination, but overturned in an appeal by the federal government last year.

 

Now they have been reinstated.

 

Lauren Butterly from the Western Australian University Law School specialises in sea country governance.

 

She told Stefan Armbruster, it's an historic decision.