The Talking Fish project covers 12 reaches within the Basin:
\nRecent decades have brought an increasing realisation that the health of the Murray-Darling Basin is at risk. An array of pressures ranging from the over allocation of water resources, poor land management planning and the expansion of primary production have all contributed to declines in river health. Fish and their habitats have been greatly affected by these pressures, with estimates suggesting native fish populations are at 10% of pre-European colonisation levels.
\nAs all levels of government explore options for improving the health of the Murray-Darling Basin, the knowledge held by people within the community who have had a lengthy association with the waterways of the Basin is being increasingly recognised as a valuable resource. People’s lived experience provides a unique insight into how changes in rivers and their associated habitats have occurred over time. Accessing and recording this information will make a significant contribution to our knowledge of the Murray-Darling Basin, and help shape the management decisions of the future to achieve improved river health outcomes.
\nMany different groups of people have developed unique relationships with rivers and their associated environments. The long history of recreational fishing within the Basin has led generations of people to spend substantial amounts of time on or near its rivers. Their desire to experience the river and to catch fish has developed a refined understanding of how fish relate to the riverine environment, and consequently how the changes to these environments have affected the status of native fisheries.
\nSimilarly, Indigenous peoples have relationships with the rivers that stretch back tens of thousands of years before the arrival of European colonisers. This strong and lasting association has also allowed Indigenous peoples to witness contemporary changes to the health of the Basin’s rivers and observe how these changes have influenced fish and their habitats. In addition, landholders, long-time residents, regular tourists and an array of other community stakeholders hold stories and memories of the river that are an invaluable resource for guiding its future management.
\nThe project represents a unique collaboration between some of Australia’s most prominent ecological oral historians (both within tertiary institutions and commercial production companies), all four Basin-state fisheries agencies and regional NRM organisations. The integration of research institutions, government and local community stakeholders provides a diverse and flexible framework to access a wide range of participants and ensure the collection, analysis and presentation of information is in accordance with national and international best practice.
\nThe project delivered a suite of oral history recordings from across the Basin, while also developing communication products in the form of radio features and community booklets. This output was deposited with the Mitchell Library of the State Library of New South Wales and the Australian Torres Strait Islander Digital Archive (ATSIDA). Physical copies are held at the Mitchell Library (Accession Record MLOH 647).
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"]]]]]]]],["itemType",{"itemTypeId":"4"},["name","Oral History"],["description","A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge."],["elementContainer",["element",{"elementId":"2"},["name","Interviewer"],["description","The person(s) performing the interview"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5404"},["text","Jodi Frawley"]]]],["element",{"elementId":"3"},["name","Interviewee"],["description","The person(s) being interviewed"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5405"},["text","John Baulch"]],["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5406"},["text","Nicole Bullen"]],["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5407"},["text","Brian Drummond"]],["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5408"},["text","Fern Hames"]],["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5409"},["text","Elaine Jones"]],["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5410"},["text","Esther Kirby"]],["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5411"},["text","Jon Leevers"]],["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5412"},["text","Greg McNeill"]],["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5413"},["text","Rodger Reilly"]],["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5414"},["text","Ross Stanton"]],["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5415"},["text","Adrian Wells"]],["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5416"},["text","Emma Wolters"]]]],["element",{"elementId":"11"},["name","Duration"],["description","Length of time involved (seconds, minutes, hours, days, class periods, etc.)"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"10511"},["text","01:01:25"]]]]]],["elementSetContainer",["elementSet",{"elementSetId":"1"},["name","Dublin Core"],["description","The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/."],["elementContainer",["element",{"elementId":"50"},["name","Title"],["description","A name given to the resource"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5388"},["text","Murray: Oral History of the 'Kerang Crew'"]]]],["element",{"elementId":"41"},["name","Description"],["description","An account of the resource"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5389"},["text","John Baulch: taught himself how to fish as a child with an Alvey sidecast fishing reel. He talks about flow rates; water levels; the European Carp supplanting the Redfin; the decline of Yellowbelly; selling fish to the local clubs; and the return of native fish.\r\n\r\nGreg McNeil:, an irrigator, suggests that recent floods might have made unecessary plans to re-snag and reclaim the river. He advocates for a hands-off approach to river management and says that irrigation across the basin has matured while becoming more 'intense'.\r\n\r\nUnannounced: recalls professional fishermen; swimming in the river; and observes that there was less recreational fishing in the past. Remembers that the Loddon was different when backed up by a weir from 1923 to 1964 and also talks about water levels and the river's improved health more recently.\r\n\r\nRodger Reilly: remembers fishing with his uncle. Mention of Woods Point. Worked with Fisheries and Wildlife, transferred to the Lands Department, and ended up in Kerang. He talks about needing to change where he goes angling because of the poor quality of water (caused by Cumbungi, siltation); frontage licenses and the advantage of local knowledge.\r\n\r\nEsther Kirby; (of the Baraba Baraba people) used to fish at the weir with her brother sister and partner, catching Redfin and Yabbies and sharing the spoils. She talks about the decline in fish diversity (especially catfish) with arrival of Carp; and how she learnt a technique to call fish up from one of her Aunties. She has fished the Edwards, Wakool, Niemur, and Goulburn rivers, among others.\r\n\r\nElaine Jones; learnt to fish for Flounder on the coast and only later stared fishing on the Loddon. She discusses the 1973 flood and the arrival of European Carp; the disappearance of Tortoises; irrigation, water efficiency and the salinity problem.\r\n\r\nRoss Stanton: remembers fishing for Redfin out of Gunbower Creek. and talks about schools of small Carp. \r\n\r\nRob O'Brien: learnt to fish with his Uncle in the lower Kerang. catching Yabbies with \"roly-poly\" woodlice. He talks about the colour of the water; fishing with spinners; and recalls that people used to fill half a wheat bag with Redfin dragging a spinner while walking from the old Kerang bridge to Kerang. He mentions the arrival of Carp in 1974; swimming; siltation; and using drum nets.\r\n\r\nThe group goes on to discuss the return of Murray Cod; the use of Murray Cod to control Carp; size limits; catch and release; changing attitudes; competitive fishing; blackwater (in 1986); different species of trout cod; and fish lanes.\r\n\r\nEsther mentions that the (Wadi Wadi?, Wodi Wodi?) group met with Parks and Wildlife and the Water Catchment Authority to raise the issue of fish being killed by irrigation.\r\n\r\nMention of Murray Darling Freshwater Research Centre; \"Water Catchment Authority\"; \"Fisheries and Wildlife\"; \"Lands Department\"\r\n\r\nAlso mentions: Red Azolla (Azolla filiculoides); Myriophyllum (\"watermilfoil\", \"cat tail\"); Cumbungi (Typha latifolia)."]]]],["element",{"elementId":"39"},["name","Creator"],["description","An entity primarily responsible for making the resource"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5390"},["text","Heather Goodall"]],["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5391"},["text","Jodi Frawley"]]]],["element",{"elementId":"45"},["name","Publisher"],["description","An entity responsible for making the resource available"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5392"},["text","University of Technology, Sydney"]]]],["element",{"elementId":"40"},["name","Date"],["description","A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5393"},["text","2010-11-19"]]]],["element",{"elementId":"37"},["name","Contributor"],["description","An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5394"},["text","Murray-Darling Basin Authority"]],["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5395"},["text","NSW Department of Primary Industries - NSW Fisheries"]]]],["element",{"elementId":"47"},["name","Rights"],["description","Information about rights held in and over the resource"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5396"},["text","Copyright University of Technology, Sydney"]]]],["element",{"elementId":"42"},["name","Format"],["description","The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5397"},["text","audio/mpeg"]],["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5398"},["text","image/jpeg"]]]],["element",{"elementId":"44"},["name","Language"],["description","A language of the resource"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5399"},["text","English"]]]],["element",{"elementId":"63"},["name","Access Rights"],["description","Information about who can access the resource or an indication of its security status. Access Rights may include information regarding access or restrictions based on privacy, security, or other policies."],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5400"},["text","Open access. Conditional use."]]]],["element",{"elementId":"64"},["name","License"],["description","A legal document giving official permission to do something with the resource."],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5401"},["text","CC BY-NC"]]]],["element",{"elementId":"90"},["name","Provenance"],["description","A statement of any changes in ownership and custody of the resource since its creation that are significant for its authenticity, integrity, and interpretation. The statement may include a description of any changes successive custodians made to the resource."],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5402"},["text","Originally organised by researchers in sub-collection 'MDB Extra'. Loddon River is a major tributary of the River Murray."]]]],["element",{"elementId":"88"},["name","Mediator"],["description","An entity that mediates access to the resource and for whom the resource is intended or useful. In an educational context, a mediator might be a parent, teacher, teaching assistant, or care-giver."],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"5403"},["text","Unmediated licence agreement. Interviewee's consent condition: Some participants have requested access restrictions but have not specified what they are."]]]],["element",{"elementId":"81"},["name","Spatial Coverage"],["description","Spatial characteristics of the resource."],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"6619"},["text","Loddon River, Vic [stream]"]],["elementText",{"elementTextId":"7090"},["text","Woods Point, Vic [point]"]],["elementText",{"elementTextId":"7091"},["text","Torbreck River, Vic"]],["elementText",{"elementTextId":"7092"},["text","Wakool River, NSW [stream]"]],["elementText",{"elementTextId":"7093"},["text","Merran Lake, NSW [lake]"]],["elementText",{"elementTextId":"7094"},["text","Gunbower Creek, Vic [stream]"]],["elementText",{"elementTextId":"7095"},["text","Barr Creek, Vic [stream]"]],["elementText",{"elementTextId":"7096"},["text","Lake Charm, Vic [lake]"]],["elementText",{"elementTextId":"7097"},["text","Kangaroo Lake, Vic [lake]"]],["elementText",{"elementTextId":"7098"},["text","Barmah Lake, Vic [lake]"]],["elementText",{"elementTextId":"7099"},["text","Moira Lake, NSW [lake]"]],["elementText",{"elementTextId":"7100"},["text","Lake Cullen, Vic"]]]],["element",{"elementId":"49"},["name","Subject"],["description","The topic of the resource"],["elementTextContainer",["elementText",{"elementTextId":"6749"},["text","Fish populations\r\n\r\n"]],["elementText",{"elementTextId":"9152"},["text","Streamflow"]],["elementText",{"elementTextId":"9153"},["text","Irrigation"]],["elementText",{"elementTextId":"9154"},["text","Water levels"]],["elementText",{"elementTextId":"9155"},["text","Fishing industry"]],["elementText",{"elementTextId":"9156"},["text","Fishing licences"]],["elementText",{"elementTextId":"9157"},["text","Water quality"]],["elementText",{"elementTextId":"9158"},["text","Introduced species"]],["elementText",{"elementTextId":"9159"},["text","Floods"]],["elementText",{"elementTextId":"9160"},["text","Siltation"]],["elementText",{"elementTextId":"9161"},["text","Salinity"]],["elementText",{"elementTextId":"9162"},["text","Fishing regulations"]],["elementText",{"elementTextId":"9163"},["text","Tournament fishing"]],["elementText",{"elementTextId":"9164"},["text","Blackwater"]],["elementText",{"elementTextId":"9165"},["text","Fishes--Speciation"]],["elementText",{"elementTextId":"9166"},["text","River engineering"]],["elementText",{"elementTextId":"9167"},["text","Fish kills"]],["elementText",{"elementTextId":"9173"},["text","Fishing--Australia"]],["elementText",{"elementTextId":"10145"},["text","Baraba Baraba people"]]]]]]],["tagContainer",["tag",{"tagId":"232"},["name","Baraba Baraba people"]],["tag",{"tagId":"70"},["name","Blackwater"]],["tag",{"tagId":"161"},["name","Fish kills"]],["tag",{"tagId":"153"},["name","Fish populations"]],["tag",{"tagId":"155"},["name","Fishes--Speciation"]],["tag",{"tagId":"60"},["name","Fishing industry"]],["tag",{"tagId":"63"},["name","Fishing regulations"]],["tag",{"tagId":"49"},["name","Floods"]],["tag",{"tagId":"20"},["name","Indigenous peoples"]],["tag",{"tagId":"65"},["name","Introduced species"]],["tag",{"tagId":"53"},["name","Irrigation"]],["tag",{"tagId":"6"},["name","Landholder"]],["tag",{"tagId":"43"},["name","Murray"]],["tag",{"tagId":"48"},["name","Native Fish Strategy"]],["tag",{"tagId":"7"},["name","Recreational fisher"]],["tag",{"tagId":"154"},["name","River engineering"]],["tag",{"tagId":"109"},["name","Salinisation"]],["tag",{"tagId":"94"},["name","Siltation"]],["tag",{"tagId":"156"},["name","Stream flow"]],["tag",{"tagId":"163"},["name","Tournament fishing"]],["tag",{"tagId":"157"},["name","Water levels"]],["tag",{"tagId":"52"},["name","Water quality"]]]]]