“The reason we're holding[the cultural fishing day] is to pass on the practice to the younger ones,” said Mr Walker. “To show them how to read the water,to talk about what to look for in the water with travelling fish. We're going to put the net out multiple times,with the kids taking control of the hauling and the boat,with us supervising.”
Mr Ella and Mr Walker,who will net fish using a cultural fishing permitgranted only a couple of years ago,say they have never been consulted about the plans for the cruise terminal in the area. That is despite Maritime Minister Melinda Pavey foreshadowing a terminal at Yarra Bay or nearby Molineaux Point in July.
Ms Pavey was approached for comment about the impact of a potential new terminal for cruise ships on local Indigenous groups,but did not respond.
Instead,a spokeswoman for the Port Authority of NSW said the Authority had been working on a “strategic business case” for a new cruise terminal. Consultation with the community would occur,the spokeswoman indicated,if the government decided to proceed with a “detailed business case”.