The paper discusses the priority of maritime estates for Aboriginal people along the coasts of Cape York, These estates restrict Aboriginal use and particular protocols are required to access particular areas. Oil spills could be catastrophic for such traditional arrangements and potentially could destroy the entire coastal resource of particular Aboriginal groups. Concerns about navigation safety are expressed and methods of reducing the risks suggested. If given the choice it is highly probable that Aboriginal people would opt for removing spill threats altogether in the light of minimal benefits derived by their communities.