Traditional owners have held a ceremony on Rapuma Island to mark the dedication of environmental protections for the Crocodile Islands.
A newly-signed Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) includes 20 islands, covering more than 78,000 hectares of land and 730,000 hectares of sea country on the archipelago off the coast of north-east Arnhem Land.
Environment and Water Minister Tanya Plibersek said the government was following through on its promise to establish 10 new IPAs and double the number of Indigenous rangers by 2030.
"It’s fantastic to see the protection of over 800,000 hectares of land and sea country in the Top End," she said.
"The Crocodile Islands are home to over 20,000 migratory waterbirds every year and provide vital nesting beaches for turtles."
The islands' mangroves, mudflats, coastal floodplains, monsoon forests, eucalypt forests, shallow seas and reefs are home to 44 threatened species, including turtles and dugongs.
Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney said the IPA would support Maringa people to realise their vision of managing their traditional lands and harnessing opportunities for local people to work on country.
"We recognise through Yolngu law and knowledge that the strength of the Crocodile Islands IPA comes from the Maringa people's tradition in caring for their land and sea country," she said.
"I acknowledge the contribution this makes towards achieving the protection of Australia’s unique biodiversity and culture for the benefit of all Australians and future generations to come."
The Crocodile Islands Rangers manage and protect a region that includes 200 kilometres of coastline.
Their work includes controlling invasive plants and animals, environmental monitoring and research, traditional knowledge transfer and cultural site maintenance.
Traditional owner Leonard Bowaynu, a Crocodile Islands Rangers director, told the ABC that an IPA would mean more rangers could work on country.
"I kept thinking of my dream about how to keep our sacred sites protected," he said.
"And I also set up a turtle sanctuary, even before this IPA.
"If you are a traditional owner, you have to keep the land and sea strong and healthy."
WHAT IS AN IPA?
* Indigenous Protected Areas are developed under voluntary agreements between First Nations peoples and the federal government to manage and protect areas of land and sea for biodiversity conservation
* The government has set a target to protect and conserve 30 per cent of Australia's land and 30 per cent of oceans by 2030
* IPAs make up more than 11 per cent of Australia’s landmass and more than 50 per cent of the "national estate", a list of natural, Indigenous and historic heritage places
* There are 83 IPAs that cover more than 87 million hectares.
