What is Sea Country?
Sea Country is how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples describe the coastal, estuarine, and marine areas that form part of their traditional Country.
Sea Country, also known as saltwater country, is not an add-on to land-based Country, rather it is part of integrated land-sea domain. It extends beyond the coastline and water to include the animals, plants, tides, currents, reefs, seabed, islands, stories, and cultural practices, rites and responsibilities connected to these places.
Through their own words: descriptions from mob
Lutruwita, (Tasmania), a video that explains Sea Country in words and images of local mob (15 mins).
"Our island home is shaped by the coastline, yet our connection to Country extends beyond these shores"
Produced by the Great Southern Reef and supported by the Centre for Marine Socioecology (UTas).
a video about Yuin mob's battle for Indigenous fishing rights in southern NSW. Long time campaigner, Uncle Wally Stewart, talks about the history of their connection with Sea Country and the importance of cultural access (2 min).
“It was a rich place to grow up. We are coastal people, we’re called Katungal, which means seafood”
A key message about Aboriginal culture is respect for country and by respecting country we ensure that the landscape is managed sustainably for the future.
DPI
more about First Nation's adaptation responses and Sea Country through CoastAdapt's case studies on Caring for Sea Country.
What about climate change?
During the 50-60 millennia that Indigenous people have occupied this land, there have been many changes. A significant one is that sea levels have changed dramatically, rising by more than 100 metres.
Today, Indigenous groups living on Country are observing many changes due to a shifting climate.
Learning from Indigenous weather knowledge
Indigenous seasonal calendars are built on millennia of close observation of plants, animals, weather patterns, and ecological cues.
These calendars offer rich insights into weather, climate, and environmental patterns passed down through countless generations. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, these observations guide life on Country and reflect a deep, enduring connection to the land, waters, and skies.
The Bureau of Meteorology hosts several Indigenous seasonal calendars, acknowledging their significance and the custodians who maintain them.
Tiwi seasons calendar; one of two seasonal calendars developed when Traditional Owners from the Tiwi Islands and the Tiwi Land Council collaborated with CSIRO.
- © Indigenous knowledge holdersTiwi calendar
Tiwi seasons calendar; one of two seasonal calendars developed when Traditional Owners from the Tiwi Islands and the Tiwi Land Council collaborated with CSIRO.
© Indigenous knowledge holders
Indigenous seasonal calendars:
- some co-produced by Indigenous groups with CSIRO, as well as some resources for, and lessons learned from, the process of developing these resources.
- some hosted by the Bureau of Meteorology, which acknowledges their significance and the custodians who maintain them.
CSIRO suggests that the importance and significance of these calendars are:
- strengthening and sharing knowledge within language groups, including between Elders and younger generations.
- providing an educational tool for learning in local schools and within the wider community.
- increasing awareness of the richness and diversity of Indigenous seasonal knowledge and connection to Country, especially through classroom use.
- serving as a boundary object (or prompt for discussion) that supports knowledge‑sharing with partners for joint management of natural areas, informing water planning, and guiding Indigenous‑led land and sea management.
your understanding of obtaining Free Prior Informed Consent (FRIC) when engaging with First Nations groups.