Fishes--Identification]]> Weirs]]> Floods]]> Water quality]]> Predatory animals--Behavior]]> Water conservation]]> Hunting]]> Bait fishing]]> Fishing--Australia]]> Fishing regulations]]>
The interview goes into depth about the types of fish that were present in the past, the increasing turbidity of the Murray River, fishing and the techniques and bait used, the interesting and opportunistic diets of the Murray Cod, and the changing views of fishers from those of over-fishing to current attitudes of conservation in light of the changing laws.

Mentioned:

Bardi grubs, 'trout', platypus, turtles, cockatoos, rats, mice.]]> CC BY-NC-ND]]> Fishes--Identification]]> Weirs]]> Fish stocking]]> Fish kills]]> Droughts]]> Fishing--Australia]]>
Wally Cubbin and Ern Holloway are both fishers who reside in Nagambie, Victoria. Wally has been living in the area for more than 35 years, while Ern has lived in the area his entire life.

In the interview, Wally and Ern share their personal experiences of fishing from their younger years, to their adult lives where their fishing slowed down, to the present where more free time allows them to be more involved.

Wally, who is the Secretary of the Goulburn Valley Association of Angling Clubs and a member of the local Angling Club, addresses a number of topics including an audit on Goulburn Valley Water, poor management of the river, restocking initiatives (fingerlings), weirs and the changes in the fish population.

Mention of:
Worms, ribbon weed, cabomba.]]> CC-BY]]> see details...]]> Atlas of Living Australia]]> The Story Project. His radio works have aired in New Zealand, Australia and America. See also hamishsewell.com]]> NLA Persistant Identifier]]> see details...]]> Atlas of Living Australia]]> Surfing for women]]> Family life]]> Communities]]> Tourism]]> Marine protected areas]]> Fishing]]> Aboriginal culture]]> Seashore]]> Landcare]]> Litter (Trash)]]> Environmental conservation]]> Marine parks]]> Water pollution]]> Marine ecosystems]]> Environmental stewardship]]> Environmental responsibility]]>
She comments on how different the culture is from when she, as a girl, would go to the beach and just lie in the sun. Now daughters of friends are engaged in the action: surfing, spear-fishing, diving. She surfs with other mums in her area and her husband's colleague encouraged her to join the Board Riders club. At first she was reluctant, having seen how competitive board riding was when growing up in the Wollongong area, and how the boys made fun of the girls, who had just recently got involved in the competition. But she went along and loved the supportiveness. She speaks of the charity work the club does, usually to support women or coastal communities. She describes the unique feeling of surfing, tuning into the ocean, how a friend told her surfing can be anti-depressant.

She talks about her young son's relation to the beach and ocean, mixed love and awe. They loved the Council’s Marine Debris Challenge which encouraged everyone to pick up as much plastic rubbish debris as they could find washed up, and then take photos of it, for the Council website. Debris is known to wash up from ships as well as littering on land, and is noticeably worse in holiday seasons.

Other topics included fishing exemptions in sanctuary zones and special permissions for Aboriginal peoples to conduct net fishing. Organisations and events mentioned: Nature Coast Marine Group; Clean Up Australia; Marine Debris Challenge; Landcare.]]> CC BY]]> Surfing]]> Marine protected areas]]> Urban planning]]> Coastal management]]> Noise pollution]]> Public land]]> Water pollution]]> National parks]]> Erosion]]> Marine parks]]> Litter (Trash)]]> Fishing boats]]> Beaches]]> Estuaries]]> Oceanography]]> Geology]]> Seawalls]]> Coastal zones]]> Coastal settlement]]> Coastal landforms]]> Marine ecosystems]]> Sea level]]> Tourism]]> Scientific observation]]> Surveying (Geography)]]> Research]]> Predictions (Science)]]> Environmental awareness]]> Environmental responsibility]]> Environmental stewardship]]> Environmental pollution]]> Environmental scientists]]> Environmental change]]> Environmental risk management]]> Environmental hazards]]> Environmental policy]]> Environmental conservation]]> Intangible assets]]>
He has an intimate knowledge of coastal dynamics from his experience as a surfer, and postgraduate research in coastal dynamics and processes. He loves surfing for its relaxation and its physical challenges. He reflects on what he has learned from surfing, being able to read the ocean, waves, tides and winds. Being a surfer has given him an intimate understanding of the environment, informing his research on coastal processes such as wave and rip modelling.

The interviewee accepts the inevitability of coastal development, and suggests that it is possible to move forward as long as communities are kept out of hazardous areas that are prone to floods and erosion. Environmental processes need to be understood. For example, in New South Wales, headlands are left undeveloped, and houses are hidden behind foredunes. Coastal development should be ‘nodalised’ near services, not spread along the coast. A reference is made to the NSW Coastal Policy.

He surveys local beaches once a month, and notes the environmental impact (generally) of visitors from Canberra, and weekenders. Jet skis used for recreation are a pest, creating noise and air pollution, but are also useful for research and rescue purposes. He comments positively about marine park exemptions that allow fishing off shores and rocks, and feels the controls are sufficient with bag and size limits in place. He notes more people fish from boats, but overall there is a small population of fishers.

The interviewee is concerned that while local government recognise the value of coast to the local community, state and federal government do not. In order to respond to issues such as rising sea levels, funding is required at that level in order to sustain coastal management into the future.
]]> CC BY]]> Moruya, NSW [populated place]]]> Marine protected areas]]> Sustainability]]> Water pollution]]> Water quality]]> Surf lifesaving]]> Social values]]> Poaching]]> Intangible assets]]> Overfishing]]> World heritage sites]]> Spear fishing]]> Diving]]> Kayaking]]> Marine parks]]> Populations (Ecology)]]> Sailing]]> Fishing industry]]> National parks]]> Biodiversity]]> Environmental science]]> Ecotourism]]> Estuaries]]> Litter (Trash)]]> Siltation]]> Sewerage]]> Compliance]]> Regulatory officers]]> Environmental stewardship]]> Environmental degradation]]> Environmental attitudes]]> Environmental responsibility]]>
Throughout his life he has enjoyed ocean-based sporting activities such as snorkelling, spear fishing, swimming, and kayaking. He continues to engage in these activities, spending a couple of times a week at the beach, with the surf club, and comments on the positive social aspect/value of these activities.

He discusses the coastal environment of Port Stephens, changes since 1950s, and talks about his son’s work as a marine biologist in the area, studying environmental impacts such as tourist boats, on dolphins.

Marine protected areas and sanctuary zones on the far south coast are discussed, in particular Burrewarra Point, which the interviewee has known since the 1970s, before it became a marine park. He vigorously supports marine protected areas and laments the lack of political will to enforce sanctuary zones. Personally, he is prepared to pay in economic terms for protective environmental measures. On the south coast he has observed illegal activities such as abalone poaching, and comments on the rubbish recreational and professional fisherman leave behind. His biggest concerns however are government complacency, and issues such as silt running down from the river and occasional raw sewage overflows.]]> CC BY]]> Batemans Bay, NSW [bay]]]> Malua Bay, NSW [bay]]]> Burrewarra Point, NSW [point]]]> Marine protected areas]]> Spear fishing]]> Diet]]> Social values]]> Economic aspects]]> Aboriginal culture]]> Fisheries]]> Poaching]]>
Originally from Sydney, he moved to the far south coast for its affordability. He and his partner also wanted to live near the water. His partner swims and snorkels at the beach; he notes the social aspect of these recreational activities for family, friends, and children.

The interviewee monitors seasonal changes and migration patterns of crayfish, in monthly moon cycles. He has observed an increase in crayfish populations, crediting regulations implemented by fisheries in the late 1990s, rather than marine parks. While he supports marine parks, he feels that selective exemptions in sanctuary zones, such as shore-based fishing, results in their ineffectiveness due to people taking advantage. He has observed a polarisation in the community with respect to marine parks, and feels that more education is required, as well as concerted coordination between Fisheries, Marine Parks, and Local Government Areas in order to have better outcomes for everyone in the community. For instance, marine environments cannot be considered in isolation – they are impacted upon by terrestrial, land-based development, hence the need for holistic governance. He mentions the Murray Darling Basin Plan consultation as an example of community ‘disengagement’.]]> CC BY]]> Narooma, NSW [populated place]]]> Surfing]]> Marine protected areas]]> Social values]]> Water quality]]> Noise pollution]]>
The interviewee has extensive experience in environmental, conservation and government organisations, having worked nationally in National Parks and Environment. He is a supporter of marine parks and thinks that sanctuary zones should be enforced (i.e. exemptions not allowed) in order to give fish stocks a chance to build up. He would like to see the continuation of sanctuary zones.

Although surfing is a solo activity, he likes the social aspect of going down to the beach, assessing surf conditions before going out to surf. He talks about the beautiful views of land from the ocean, and the way in which surfing educates you about the weather and tides.

He reflects on the lack of major development as a reason for good water quality in the region, and finds the greatest irritant to be recreational jet skiers due to the noise and smell (fumes) of the craft. He would like to see restrictions on jet ski activities. ]]> CC BY]]> Moruya River, NSW [stream]]]>