Fishing--Australia]]> Water quality]]> Restoration ecology]]> Stream restoration]]> Riparian restoration]]> Introduced fishes]]> Fishes--Breeding]]> Floods]]> Fishes--Diseases]]> Fish surveys]]>
Dwayne talks about fishing with his family; tagging fish; the influence of water colour on fish colour; fish parasites; his two boats; electric motors; and his dislike of nets. He says the water takes two years to clear after a flush and mentions that lure fishing is at its best when it does. He discusses the river ecosystem; bank stabilisation; re-snagging programs; the impact of Carp; carp musters and changing attitudes towards angling (catch and release). He also talks about flooding and fish breeding habits; yabbying on the Warrego River; and mentions storing yabbies with gum leaves and sighting black Yellowbellies at a place called Black Rocks.

Mentions Darling River Weir 19A (30°13'55.0"S 145°41'49.0"E; MDBA Site ID 425037; "19-mile weir"), Ford's Bridge (NSW, -29.753215, 145.430510), Warren Reservoir (SA), Bourke Weir (-30.086914, 145.894400), Bree Weir, Black Rocks

Mention of garden worms, white sea eagles, emu, king brown snakes, carpet snakes, red belly black snakes, water lillies, gums, algae and Dace Cordina of the Cathment Management Authority ]]> ]]> CC-BY]]> Fishes--Identification]]> Billabongs]]> Cultural flows]]> Water quality]]> Riparian restoration]]> Connection to Country]]> Native plants]]> Clean energy]]> Fish stocking]]> Ngiyambaa / Ngemba language]]>
Feli believes that the root of social issues facing Aboriginal people is the lack of culturally appropriate employment. He reflects on his personal experiences where he recalls having to adopt another identity and therefore understands the difficulties this entails. He says that Aboriginal people as instinctive custodians possess valuable skills that are transferable to specialised areas of employment.

Feli’s vision for billabongs, that he says are the antibiotics for the damaged systems, include the revegetation of native bush tucker and restocking the waters with native fingerlings. He is working with scientists from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Industry & Investment (now Department of Trade and Investment), and the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) to help realise these goals.

Feli also discusses the Native Fish Strategy for the Murray-Darling Basin (2003-2013) and the Indigenous Protected Areas (IPA) in which these billabongs are located.]]> CC BY-NC]]> Fishing--Australia]]> Introduced fishes]]> Fishing rods]]> Bait fishing]]> Stream flow]]>
Gordon reminisces about the 1956 floods in Maitland. He talks about how hew learned to fish at Moruya and Coffs Harbour, and how he learned to make nets. He discusses what features to look for in the river when fishing with rods and setting nets. On netting, he says that illegal fish trapping is still prevalent. He also talks about the introduction of carp and their effect on catfish and weeds; his participation in the local Carp Muster competition; Indigenous Australians living at the Wier; bait; and making and appraising rods. Gordon says the river hasn't changed much since 1956.

Cathy talks yabbying in the Warrego River and off Ford's Bridge, and about the crabs she's seen at Gumbalie.

Mention of Cumbungi (bullrush)
Brown snakes, Black Snakes, Taipan, worms,
Gin (Aboriginal Woman)]]> CC-BY]]> Fishing--Australia]]> Water quality]]> Fish stocking]]> Traditional environmental knowledge]]> Water conservation]]> Fish stocking]]> River engineering]]> Bait fishing]]> Fish populations]]> Introduced fishes]]>
Keith grew up in Brewarrina and learned to fish with his father. He learned to swim in the river, and remembers how clear the water was - clear enough that people could go spearfishing.

Keith and Max talk about using worms, mussels and crayfish as bait and discuss variance in carp populations over time. They also observe that fishing is better in the dry when the water levels are lower. They mention Yellowbelly and Murray Cod restocking programs; talk about de-oxygenated water; changes in attitudes about sustainable fishing (catch and release); how to read the river; what they've learned from Indigenous Australians; the mass of birdlife; weir management; and water restrictions. They talk about boat trips along the river and their sighting of baby catfish in the Bokhara and Culgoa Rivers.

Mention of Goanna, Wallaby. frogs, blacksnakes, brown snakes, carpet snakes, mosquitoes.

Mention of Brewarrina fishing club]]> CC BY-NC-ND]]> Introduced fishes]]> Fishing--Australia]]> Fishing industry]]> Stream restoration]]> Restoration ecology]]> River engineering]]> Riparian areas--Management]]> Water resources]]> Water allocations]]>
Mick explains his family history and the history of their property 'Myandetta". He talks about the history of fishing in the area; professional anglers and netters; and changing attitudes towards fishing (catch and release). He learned to fish with nets and lines with his grandfathers. He discusses the arrival of European carp in 1973, noting that they travel in floodwater. He talks about bait, what it takes to catch Bony Beam, and set lines.

Barb talks about yabbying, and says that she likes fishing but loves the river.

Mick and Barb approve of restocking efforts by the Department of Primary Industries (DPI), but share their concerns about the reduced responsiveness of fishing inspectors. They observe that there are more visitors and anglers about the river and note that illegal fishing is still practiced. They discuss man made weirs and natural weirs; river management; water allocations; water licenses; grazing along the river: erosion; and efforts to re-establish vegetation along the river.

Mention of NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI), Catchment Management Authority (CMA)
Penny Wong

Mention of Lake Cargellico (NSW), Burrendong Dam (NSW), Darling River Weir 19A (30°13'55.0"S 145°41'49.0"E; MDBA Site ID 425037; "19-mile weir")

Mention of water lizards, wombats, shrimp.]]> ]]> CC-BY]]> Fishing--Australia]]> Bait fishing]]> Fishing nets]]> River engineering]]> Water levels]]> Water resources]]> Water allocations]]>
Phillip has lived in Bourke his entire life and in this interview he talks about his experience fishing while growing up in a family of eight, when fish were a large part of their diet. He explains his relationship with the river, his family history, his Indigenous Australian heritage, and how fishing and sharing go together. He talks about swimming in the weir, setting lines, using spinners, teaching his kids to fish. He mentions yabbying at Wearrego and Cuttaburra, and explains how yabbies were used as a Chinese aphrodisiac. He discusses different baits: Silver Carp, Kangaroo, Emu, worms, sand worms, Bardi Grubs, tinned tuna, mussels, and yabbies). He explains the differrence between drop nets and overnight nets, and discusses the conditions that are good for Yabby catching. He talks about the river when it dries; salt springs; algae; water allocations; river management; and weir management. He also talks about the future of Bourke and people leaving town, and his involvement with the program Australian Story - Out of the Dust.

Phillip is an entrepreneur and is the owner of the Back O' Bourke Motel, rental accommodation, and he has just purchased the local RSL club and the Memorial Hall - which he wants to redevelop into a Tavern style place to cater to the tourists that come through in the winter. He explains that there are only two eateries in town at present - Port Of Bourke Hotel and Chinese in the local bowling club.

Mention of Silver carp ("forky tails"), Bardi Grubs, worms, sand worms, Kurrajong Trees, Gum trees, algae and Bourke Weir.]]> CC-BY]]> Fishes--Identification]]> Floods]]> Weirs]]> Aboriginal fish traps]]> Aboriginal art]]> Water quality]]> Ngiyambaa / Ngemba language]]> Silt]]> Totems]]> Rock paintings]]> Paakantyi / Paakantji / Barkindji people]]> Muruwari / Murrawarri people]]> Wiradjuri people]]> Gamilaraay / Gamilaroi / Kamilaroi language]]> Connection to Country]]> Aboriginal kinship systems]]>
Phillip passionately discusses a wide range of topics that include growing up along the river; the impacts on the Upper Darling and surrounds caused by weirs and restrictions; Aboriginal history; the significance of connection to Country and water; Aboriginal law and personal responsibilities; and the relationships between neighbouring Aboriginal nations. He also points out the cultural shifts he has witnessed; from that of a group-focused, collectivist culture, to a more Western-aligned culture of individualism with its self-focused culture, and its consequences on Aboriginal kinship values, society and the environment.

Mention of: King Brown Snake. Eastern Brown Snake. Long neck turtles.

Quandong. Gum trees. Coolabah trees. Spinifex.]]> CC BY-NC]]>
The Upper Murrumbidgee meanders through the Snowy Mountains in south‐eastern New South Wales, snaking its way south, then turning north before dropping into the lowland and heading west to join the Murray downstream of Swan Hill. The Upper ‘Bidgee floodplain is only a couple of hundred metres wide, a stark contrast to the kilometres‐wide floodplains in other parts of the Murray‐Darling Basin. When the floods come, they come up quickly and roar through the narrow valleys.

Since Europeans arrived the health of the river and its fish has been shaped by the people who came to live there and the industries that developed. Mining and grazing, and the development of Canberra brought new people with new needs. Once, river levels would rise with the spring snow melt before falling slowly over the summer. Today the snow melt is collected in Tantangara Dam before being returned to the ‘Bidgee below Burrinjuck Dam. The river between these dams is a shadow of its former self.

These are the traditional lands of the Ngunnawal and Ngarigo peoples. They fished the river and surrounding waterways and the seasonal rise and fall of the water guided their travels and featured in their stories.

(Source: Frawley, J., Nichols, S., Goodall, H. and Baker, E. 2011. Upper Murrumbidgee: Talking fish, making connections with the rivers of the Murray‐Darling Basin, Murray‐Darling Basin Authority, Canberra.)]]> Map image attribution: Murray-Darling Basin Authority, Talking Fish Project see details...]]> View or download from publisher...]]> http://geonode.research.uts.edu.au/layers/geonode%3Afrawley2012page140]]> Places of significance]]> Community cooperation]]> Land custodianship]]> Aboriginal culture]]> Wiradjuri people]]> Walgalu / Walgal people]]> Ngarigo / Ngarigu people]]> Ngunawal / Ngunnawal people
]]> Kurnai / Gunai people]]> Burial sites]]> Sacred sites]]> Traditional ecological knowledge]]> Connection to Country]]>
Adrian talks about growing up along the River (around Queanbeyan River, Jumping Creek, and Wanna Wanna Creek) and the way that he and his brother learnt the land by walking it and fishing the river with their Dad. He talks about historical sites and significant sites; expressing continuity with Country; making Coolamons; the significance of Country; traditional ceremony; initiation rites; right of passage; the duty of care for different animals as part of an interconnected environment; and recognising law and responsibility for Country. He also discusses the interaction and movements of peoples along the catchment (relaying the history of the Ngunawal and their responsibility to the Murrumbidgee corridor and their relation to coastal peoples); trading; and shared vocabulary across language groups from the top of the Murrumbidgee to Lakes Entrance.

Adrian covers the effects of housing developments on cultural practice; weeds; variance in fish population according to river flow; lighting fires; cultural burns; site management; discrimination; ignorance; and work with the ACT government to promote the recognition and understanding of Indigenous Australian interests.

Adrian also shares his experience as an Aboriginal Liaison Officer with the ACT National Parks and Wildlife Service and his sense of pride and belonging. He talks about efforts to refocus the connection to Country of Indigenous Australians employed as rangers, and to promote a cultural mindfulness among them. He speculates how Indigenous people could again be welcomed by the Ngunawal as National Parks officers - all learning and walking the land together.

Adrian discusses how fish travel up the river when it floods; mixing traditional and modern fishing methods; sources of sediment (sand from Tharwa, dirt from Cooma, Bredbo and Numeralla Rivers); clay baking fish; mussels (saltwater and freshwater); abalone; native plants.
]]>
Electronic records have been made private as per the request of Adrian Brown. As part of our data access requirements, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Data Archive (located at the University of Technology, Sydney) requires an applicant to sign an undertaking before access to material can be approved. These undertakings may include a request for information about the intended use of the data. The depositor and/or family may be informed of the application.

Preliminary applications may be made to:
atsida@lib.uts.edu.au.]]> Fish populations]]> Fishes--Migration]]> Fishes--Breeding]]> Fishes--Speciation]]> Fish stocking]]> Fish kills]]> Fishes--Diseases]]> Lure fishing]]> Bait fishing]]> Fishing--Australia]]> Fishing industry]]>
Brian came to the Murrumbidgee in 1965. He talks about seasonal variations in the prevalence of fish, and their breeding and migration habits. He remarks on regional variations within species and cross-breeding (e.g. how the Clarence River Cod differs from the "Fitzroy Cod"). He discusses the annual mass death of Silver Perch and Murray Cod, speculating that its cause is a pathogenic. He also speaks about population decline, and weighing the social and ecological consequences of translocating and re-stocking fish. He offers a strong endorsement of the Native Fish Strategy and talks about his efforts to advocate for native fish in the media.

He shares his knowledge of lures; their colour, size and patterning, as well as other ways that their design replicates nature. He also talks about bait; what it's used for, where it comes from, and how it's collected.

Mention of Fitzroy Cod, Brook Trout, Atlantic Salmon, Nile Perch, Barrumundi, Midget Barrumundi, mussels, scrub worms, bardy grub, witchetty grub, wood grub (variant?), yabby, squid, pilchards, prawn, beach worms, abalone, EHN Virus, pathogens, Lernaea (parasite)

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