On the New South Wales north coast a history-making native claim has been granted to the Yaegl people.
Native title proceedings were initiated by the Yaegl people of the lower Clarence region more than 20 years ago and land was granted two years ago.
This week however is the first time in NSW that Aboriginal rights to a stretch of sea have been recognised.
More than 90 kilometres of coastline extending 200m out to sea was officially recognised by the Federal Court this week.
Native-title holders cannot be prohibited from carrying out fishing for personal, non-commercial needs and have the right to maintain and protect places, objects and areas of importance under traditional laws and customs.
Earlier in the year the NSW Aboriginal Fishing Rights Group launched a petition calling on NSW Fisheries to cease prosecuting Aboriginal people for fishing offences.
The group wants the NSW government to stop prosecutions until a South Coast Native Title claim launched in 2016 is resolved.
(FEATURED IMAGE – Flickr, Michael Dawes)
