Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2025L00070:body:0:p10
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2025L00070
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 29274–32284

Island. Sampans are an example of this. Sampans are boats handcrafted by the Malay community from a single tree trunk. They have been built for over 100 years, with each generation inheriting the building method from the previous. Historically, sampans were used for transport and fishing. Today, their construction highlights the Malay community's historical and ongoing connection to the island's waters and efforts to continue the passing of important cultural knowledge on to younger generations.

Fishing

The marine environment supports important sources of food that have sustained local communities since settlement. Fishing and the communal sharing of food play an important role in the Malay and Chinese culture and lifestyle, and it is important to them that these valuable practices be maintained.

Fishing is a popular pursuit for islanders of all cultural backgrounds. On calm weekend mornings, a procession of recreational fishing vessels will head out from the Flying Fish Cove boat ramp and travel around Smith Point (Tanjung DO), set their trolling lines and head into the marine park in search of oceanic fish like wahoo (tengiri) and yellowfin tuna (tuna sirip kuning), which are regular visitors to the nearshore waters of Christmas Island. They feed and are often caught in the blue water adjacent to the reef edge, while other large species, such as dogtooth tuna (haruan tasik) and bluefin trevally (ikan puteh biru), inhabit the outer reef and may be targeted by spearfishers.

Despite its small scale, commercial fishing is an important activity at Christmas Island. Local commercial fishers use low‑impact methods to sustainably catch fresh seafood and offer it for sale to local restaurants and those not fortunate enough to catch it for themselves.

The marine park's yellow zone allows established local fishing practices to continue in accordance with fishing rules administered by the Commonwealth Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts. Fisheries management activities at Christmas Island are undertaken through the employment of a local fisheries ranger by the Shire of Christmas Island and a locally elected community representative body known as the Fisheries Management Committee. There is also a ministerially appointed Fisheries Advisory Committee whose membership is drawn from the local community to advise the Commonwealth Minister for Territories on local fisheries matters.

Image: Yellowfin tuna (tuna sirip kuning) is a popular target species at Christmas Island (Tom Wang)

     1.      Social and economic values

The Christmas Island marine environment and its natural values support a range of important social and economic uses that underpin the prosperity and wellbeing of many members of the Christmas Island community.

Recreational activities

The marine environment provides a source of recreation and relaxation, with residents and visitors drawn to the ocean for fishing, boating, kayaking, sailing,