Maizab Kaur Custodians: Meet TSRA Erubam Rangers Barry Pau, Mark Waigana, and Kevin Mye

For Torres Strait Traditional Owners and Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA) Rangers, Maizab Kaur (Bramble Cay) is more than a turtle rookery. It is a place of stories, responsibility, and hope.

Maizab Kaur is the northernmost island of the Great Barrier Reef and the Sea Country of the Erubam Le (people from Erub) of Zenadth Kes (Torres Strait). The Erubam Le have stories and songs about the creation of Maizab Kaur by the Peiudu and Meuram tribes.

For TSRA Erub Ranger Kevin Mye, that connection carries a responsibility that spans generations. "My people have maintained this special island from time immemorial, protecting the island, the animals on it and the animals in the water surrounding it," he says. "We have procedures and protocols in place that have been handed down through generations verbally, through stories, songs and in action." These teachings continue to guide how Traditional Owners care for Maizab Kaur today, and the stories and songs remain written in the landscape itself, connecting people to Country.

"Maizab Kaur is special," TSRA Erub Ranger Barry Pau explains. "The evidence is there in the rocks. Rebes and Paiwer (rocky outcrops) tell the story of how this place came to be."

Today, Rangers and Traditional Owners continue that responsibility through marine turtle monitoring and conservation. Each nesting season, they travel to Maizab Kaur to collect data that helps protect green turtles, or Nam. While the monitoring is important, Erub Rangers agree that witnessing hatchlings emerge from the sand and begin their journey to sea is one of the most rewarding aspects of the work.

 "Normally not that many survive. With the work the rangers are doing, there are more turtles for future generations," says Barry.

Maizab Kaur supports a globally important green turtle nesting population. TSRA's involvement in turtle monitoring on Maizab Kaur began in 2009. Since then, Rangers and Traditional Owners have led annual research trips to better understand turtle population trends and respond to emerging threats. The teams set ambitious monitoring targets and consistently achieve them, collecting high-quality data that responds to community research priorities.

While modern monitoring methods have expanded over time, the work remains grounded in Traditional Ecological Knowledge and connection to Country. "Now as a ranger we get to work towards the same purpose [as our ancestors], but with a much broader team made up of Traditional Owners, Traditional Knowledge Holders, western science, TSRA, PBCs and Rangers," says TSRA Erub Ranger Kevin. "By combining all of these approaches, we can intertwine traditional knowledge and western science to give the island and its wildlife, especially the Nam (green turtle), the greatest chance of survival."

One of the most exciting milestones has been the satellite tagging of green turtles. The tags have helped Traditional Owners track the post-nesting migration of turtles back to their foraging grounds in real time, while also strengthening community connection to the project. 

"The satellite tagging was really special," TSRA Erub Ranger Mark Waigana says. "The community loved it. We could share the technology, follow the turtles' journeys, and bring those stories back home. Everyone wanted to know where the turtles were going."

The work has also reinforced traditional ecological knowledge. Over many years, Barry has observed links between the island's environment and turtle abundance. "I've watched this for a long time," he says. "When there are lots of mangoes on the island, we get lots of turtles nesting. Fewer mangoes, not so many turtles."

Maizab Kaur is constantly changing. Seasonal winds shift sand across the cay, dramatically reshaping nesting habitat from year to year. Sea level rise and climate change impacts have also contributed to erosion of the island. Yet through these changes, the commitment of Erubam Rangers remains constant.

Looking to the future, Barry, Mark and Kevin hope Maizab Kaur becomes a place of learning for all of Zenadth Kes. They envision Traditional Owners leading conservation activities, sharing knowledge with young people and teaching future generations about turtles, culture and Country.

"I want Maizab Kaur to educate people about turtles," Barry says. "Not just rangers, but families, young people and Traditional Owners. The knowledge is already there. We just need to keep sharing it."

Mark's message to future rangers is simple and powerful. "Know where you come from, learn your history, and follow in the footsteps of those who came before you." Through that connection and leadership, the story of Maizab Kaur and its turtles will continue for generations to come.

As we celebrate 25 years of the IOSEA Marine Turtle MOU, we showcase some of the people, initiatives and communities that have contributed to marine turtle conservation across the region. Visit our Story Map to discover their stories.