Michael Wear

Tidal Moon

Michael Wear is a Mulgana Traditional Custodian of Shark Bay in Western Australia. He has spent more than 30 years working on and around the ocean and supporting the creation of Indigenous jobs and livelihoods. Seeking to restore Indigenous cultural heritage by recreating Australia’s first export (sea cucumbers to Asia), Michael founded the Tidal Moon Sea Cucumbers Project in 2017. He united three Aboriginal communities, Mulgana (Shark Bay), Bayungu (Coral Bay / Exmouth) and Thalanyji (Onslow), to develop a viable commercial sea cucumber business that would create economic opportunity, promote environmental stewardship, and provide a way for the younger generation to reconnect with and care for country. In 2023, BHP awarded Tidal Moon the break through blue carbon grant to leverage Tidal Moon’s diving, cultural and scientific expertise to restore damaged seagrass beds in Shark Bay.