Fishing Enterprise in the Thamarrurr Region

TDC and the community have identified a potential opportunity to create new employment, economic, and skill development opportunities for the people of Wadeye by operating a fishing bait business. By working with and supporting Traditional Owners in the region, TDC and the Traditional Owners are developing a sustainable, locally owned and operated business.

The TDC fishing bait business aims to provide fresh fish and bait to the local market, as well as businesses in Darwin. The business sources a variety of fresh fish sustainably from the pristine waters of the Thamarrurr region, including bait fish, salmon, barramundi, mudcrabs, mullet, and other local NT table fish.

To carry out the operations, the TDC fishing bait business has a team of five Aboriginal Coastal Licenses (ACL) in the Thamarrurr region. These licenses were part of fishing bait trials carried out at Old Mission and Fossil Head during 2016 and 2017.

Each license has an annual quota of 5 tonnes and are currently held by Leon Melpi, Theodore Dooling, Dick Parry, Jason Singh, and Alo Nganbe.

For more information about the TDC fishing bait business, please call (08) 8941 1111.