Marine protected areas]]> Economic activity]]> Fishing]]> Tourism]]> Poaching]]> Noise pollution]]>
His father was drawn to the area for its recreational fishing, and the interviewee ‘grew up as a mad fisherman’, fishing from both the shore and boat. He has taught his children to fish, and recalls fond memories growing up with his brother, snorkelling and spear fishing.

In terms of the tourist business, he enjoys the interactive experiences he is able to offer customers, such as watching South Coast stingrays and water birds feeding on fish. Out in the kayaks his experiences are generally positive; kayakers are able to move about freely and interact with local commercial fishermen, who are happy to engage and educate. There are negative experiences as well, including poaching or illegal fishing in sanctuary zones. Jet skis are a problem; they are noisy and reduce the enjoyment of kayakers.

When asked about the amnesty or allowance of shore fishing in sanctuary zones, he raises concern about the confusion it causes between ‘ocean-fronted’ and other sanctuary zones. He believes more resources should be placed into educating the public so that recreational fishing and tourism can still bring economic value to the region, in an environmentally sustainable way.]]> CC BY]]> Mossy Point, NSW [populated place]]]> Clyde River, NSW [stream]]]> Durras, 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]]]> 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]]]> Floods]]> Local history]]> Family life]]> Livestock]]>
Images were sourced by the Talking Fish project team from Colin and Beryl Leigo on the day of their oral history interview.]]> Local history]]> Family histories]]> Floods]]> Livestock]]>
Images were sourced by the Talking Fish project team from Ron Heinemann on the day of his oral history interview.]]> Riparian restoration]]> Lure fishing]]>
Jason Simpson and his boss Doug Jamaeson have been rehabilitating the banks of the river, planting trees, grasses and shrubs where Doug’s farms have frontage.]]> CC-BY]]> Fishes--Identification]]> Lagoons]]> Billabongs]]> Plants--Identification]]> Family histories]]> Tourism]]> Boats]]> Weirs]]> Fishes--Migration]]> Environmental flows]]> Siltation]]> Introduced fishes]]> Fishes--Diseases]]>
Born in 1943, Dennis Lean is a third generation shop owner in Yarrawonga. His grandfather came to the area in 1917 and opened a barber shop. The shop was predominantly for hairdressing, but Dennis's father started selling fishing tackle and other items. Dennis expanded this aspect of the business, both as a result of his own interest in recreational fishing, and due to the increase in fishing related tourism. Dennis was also president of the Cobram Fowl and Game Club.

Dennis talks about: learning to fish on Lake Mulwala; fishing methods; different types of boats; draining of the lake for weir maintenance; movement of Murray Cod and Yellowbelly; fish preservation; relationship between Ovens River, Murray River, and Hume Weir; siltation in the Ovens River; displacement of Catfish by European Carp; a virus carried by European Carp; important differences between silver and black species of Willow tree; impact of Willow removal on platypus.

Other fish mentioned: 'silver bream' (species unspecified).]]> CC-BY]]> Fishes--Identification]]> Communities]]> Environmental flows]]> Floods]]> Fish stocking]]> Licenses]]> Lure fishing]]> Fish habitat improvement]]> Water temperature]]> Boats]]> Water sports]]> Erosion]]> Fieldwork]]>
Graham, Ken and Peter are members of the Corowa Angling Club, and have lived in the Corowa area since the 1970s. Graham has worked as a water bailiff, a law enforcement officer responsible for the policing of bodies of water. They are concerned about restricted access to the river as time goes on.

The group talk about: Corugan Pumps (Hans’ Creek), an anabranch of the Murray River; changes in the Murray’s course as a result of floods, early 1980s; fishing at Jerilderie and Deniliquin; increases in Yellowbelly species since restocking; decline in Redfin species since 1980s; club travels; fishing licences; lure fishing; changes in fishing equipment; snags and fish habitat; types of bait; river health; collecting data for Arthur Rylah Institute; restocking activities, since 1988; changes in fishing culture, ‘catch and release’; changes in vegetation from boating activities; use of pylons and stones to stop river bank erosion; changes in width and depth of the river; mammals, birds, reptiles, snakes; blue-green algae and pollution; temperature differences.]]> CC-BY]]> Fishes--Identification]]> Family life]]> Camping]]> Swimming]]> Weeds]]> Fishing boats]]> Water sports]]> Environmental flows]]> Introduced fishes]]> Floods]]>
Born in 1964, Tracy is Manager of the Loxton Information Bureau. She moved to Loxton when she was about 11, and spent a lot of time at Katarapko Creek. Tracy saw her interview as a way to honour her father Colin Shultz, his love of the river, and the way the river became integral to their life once they moved to Loxton. Tracy’s interview is short but rich in terms of showing how recreational fishing, family life and place making environments are intertwined.

Tracy talks about: camping, fishing, swimming, and skiing on the river; recreational fishing methods from boat and river bank; yabbying methods; changes in water quality (visibility and colour); changes in water vegetation (weeds and reeds); worm farming; observations of change sin water flow and current; snags and debris in the river; an occasion when carp became stuck in wetlands after a high water event; the differences between the river at Albury and Katarapko Creek; floods 1970s.]]> CC BY-NC]]>