The traditional owners of vast tracts of the Northern Territory coastline have threatened to close off access to all fishing if negotiations with the Gunner Government are not salvaged by December.

Key points: The NLC will extend fishing access by six months if negotiations with government improve by December 4

The NLC will extend fishing access by six months if negotiations with government improve by December 4 But it has threatened to close that access if negotiations stall

But it has threatened to close that access if negotiations stall All fishing access to much of the NT coastline would then be closed after December 31

The decision was made at the conclusion of four days of meetings between the Northern Land Council's full council in Jabiru.

The council decided to allow fishing groups access to Indigenous intertidal zones for another six months, but only if it receives what it has called "a satisfactory and comprehensive response" from the Territory Government by December 4.

Traditional owners asked the Northern Territory Government for an agreement which ensures Aboriginal people can participate in the commercial fishing industry, have a role in managing fisheries, and which recognises Indigenous rights over sea country.

The Land Council decided that if it does not receive a satisfactory response by 4 December the current permission to access the intertidal zone will expire on December 31.

Then, the council resolved that it would recommend "to all traditional owners that no access permits or agreements to allow recreational or commercial fishing be issued in relation to Aboriginal intertidal waters until the next full council meeting in May 2019".

Traditional owners regained rights to more than 6,000 kilometres of the intertidal zone, between the low and high water marks, in the July 2008 Blue Mud Bay High Court decision.

Traditional owners hope that their intertidal zone rights will soon extend to key fishing rivers including the Daly River. ( ABC News: Jane Bardon )

Traditional owners want 'real benefits'

"The High Court's Blue Mud Bay decision came down more than 10 years ago," the Northern Land Council's outgoing chief executive Joe Morrison said.

"Aboriginal traditional owners are deeply frustrated that little progress has been made since then, and they've made it plain to us that they want real benefits from that decision."

The Land Council said it gave the Territory Government a "wide-ranging submission" in June and asked it to negotiate a comprehensive settlement by November 5.

It said it received a letter from the Government on November 9 that did not address traditional owners' aspirations.

The Northern Territory Fisheries Minister Ken Vowles addressed the Land Council meeting on Thursday.

"Although Minister Vowles did say that his government was keen to negotiate in good faith to increase the participation of traditional owners in both management and commercial activities relating to fishing, his letter did not address the specifics of our submission," Mr Morrison said.

He said when Mr Vowles addressed the meeting, "members were disappointed that he did not say anything of substance".

The Northern Land Council's outgoing chief executive Joe Morrison said traditional owners wanted to see "real benefits".

'Negotiating in good faith'

Since 2008, the Territory Government has held off the prospect of private operators and recreational fishermen having to apply for permits through the Northern Land Council by entering into a series of deals to allow temporary access while negotiations continued.

Mr Morrison told the ABC in August that an offer of $490,000 from the Northern Territory Government to progress the negotiations appeared hollow.

"We have heard from traditional owners repeatedly that they want to maintain their property rights and control access to the intertidal waters, and who came onto their country, as they do when it comes to the terrestrial area of their country," Mr Morrison said.

"They do not want open access, and that's part of the issue that we have with the Northern Territory Government, is a stipulation around open access."

The Territory Government responded by saying it respects the right of traditional owners to manage access to their intertidal country.

"The Government has been negotiating in good faith with the NLC for over a year now, and those often robust negotiations are getting to the pointy end," a spokeswoman for Mr Vowles said.

"We well understand the importance of traditional owners wanting more involvement in the management of fisheries around our coast, and I will continue to work with the NLC, the Amateur Fishermen's Association and the NT Seafood Council to settle an agreement."

The threat to close much of the Northern Territory's coastal intertidal zone could later extend to parts of the Territory's key barramundi fishing rivers, over which there are unresolved Indigenous land claims.

In May 2017, Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion announced the Commonwealth would provide the Northern Land Council with $7.5 million to help traditional owner groups finalise their land claims over the intertidal river beds and banks and their sea country.

The rivers affected include the Daly, McArthur, Mary, Roper and Finniss.

This year the Minister also allocated $150,000 to the Amateur Fishermen's Association and $150,000 to Northern Territory Seafood Council from federal Indigenous Advancement Strategy funds to help them finalise and tender their objections to those claims, he said, in an attempt to resolve them.