Pipi harvest

Why is this project important?

‘The Safe and Sustainable Sea Country Harvest of Pipi for Aboriginal Cultural Purposes’ project aims to reintroduce opportunities for Aboriginal people to continue the traditional cultural practice of pipi gathering.

The harvest of pipis for human consumption is prohibited in NSW (other than by a commercial fisher endorsed to take pipi and working to a current biotoxin management plan). This is because pipi meat can contain naturally occurring, but harmful, biotoxins from algae.

What are we doing?

The project is looking at how to provide a safe and sustainable harvest solution for Aboriginal community consumption. Targeted Aboriginal communities will undertake biotoxin testing to ensure harvested pipis are safe for consumption.

Seafood contamination is identified as a high-risk threat to Aboriginal cultural heritage in the statewide threat and risk assessment for the marine estate.

• Tweed Heads
• Byron Bay
• Ballina
• Clarence Valley
• Hastings Valley
• Port Stephens
• Jervis Bay regions

Department of Primary Industries – Fisheries

• Local Aboriginal communities
• Universities