Mr Michael Wear

The Tidal Moon Sea Cucumbers project is a collaboration with three Aboriginal communities, Mulgana (Shark Bay), Bayungu (Coral Bay / Exmouth) and Thalanyji (Onslow), which has developed a viable commercial sea cucumber business, training and supporting the next generation of local Indigenous people, while maintaining cultural heritage and environmental stewardship. Out of this Indigenous aquaculture project has emerged a unique and significant blue carbon biodiversity restoration project.

Tidal Moon: Ancient Trades & Modern Problems

From at least 1700 until 1907, hundreds of fishermen sailed each year from Makassar on the island of Sulawesi (now Indonesia) to the Arnhem Land coast to trade with Aboriginal people for trepang (sea cucumber), which is still used for food and medicine. This ancient trade is being revitalised by Tidal Moon, a 100% owned Indigenous company, bringing saltwater people home to their culture and language. Out of this Indigenous aquaculture project emerged a unique and significant blue carbon biodiversity restoration project.

For Tidal Moon equality of access is key, and they believe that a group’s upward mobility derives primarily from its development of human capital. This is the story of the trepang and how this business is having significant impact not only on the lives of the Indigenous saltwater people, but the environment as well.