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First recipient of the Prime Minister’s Prize for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Knowledge Systems announced

03 December 2025
Country and environment
Professor Michael Wear is a Malgana Traditional Custodian of Shark Bay (Gutharraguda) in Western Australia.

Professor Michael Wear received the inaugural Prime Minister’s Prize for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Knowledge Systems in the 2025 Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science.

Professor Michael Wear is a Malgana Traditional Custodian of Shark Bay (Gutharraguda) in Western Australia. He founded Tidal Moon, Australia’s first Indigenous-owned-and-led sea cucumber fishery and marine restoration enterprise.

The Malgana people of Shark Bay (Gutharraguda) in Western Australia have a deep connection to the ocean – Saltwater Country. Their knowledge maintains and promotes the sustainability of marine environments.

Shark Bay is home to the world’s largest seagrass meadows. Under his leadership, Tidal Moon is partnering with scientists to lead a world-first seagrass conservation and restoration project following a devasting 2011–2012 heatwave.

Aboriginal knowledge systems are guiding the restoration of damaged seagrass beds, which are vital to biodiversity, sustaining fish stocks and carbon storage. Tidal Moon’s highly skilled Aboriginal divers play a leading role in environmental observation and seagrass restoration. They are sustainably harvesting healthy seagrass and replanting it in areas that have been damaged.

“Everything is connected when it comes to knowledge systems for Indigenous peoples. We use these systems as individuals and as a community. It’s living knowledge and it is continuous,” Professor Wear said.

Professor Wear has built a free-market enterprise that creates economic opportunities, promotes environmental stewardship and helps the younger generations connect with their cultural heritage. 

“My goal is to scale up Tidal Moon in a sustainable way so that we can help the ocean, help people and make sure there are jobs to be inherited by young people in our community.”

Professor Wear is proud and humbled to be the first recipient of the prize.

“To receive the Prime Minister’s Prize for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Knowledge Systems is unbelievable. I might be the first, but I don’t want to be the last.”

To find out more about the Prizes and how to nominate for the 2026 Prizes go to: industry.gov.au/PMPrizes.