Floods]]> Siltation]]> Riparian restoration]]> Fish stocking]]> Camping]]> Irrigation]]> Introduced fishes]]> Lure fishing]]> Bait fishing]]> Family life]]> Weeds]]> Billabongs]]> Fishes--Breeding]]> Tournament fishing]]> Fishes--Identification]]>
In the interview, Jason covers the changes in the river including silting, the declining frequency of floods, his work in land care and regeneration with the Catchment Management Authority (CMA), the fishing techniques he employs, occurrences of illegal fishing and the continually changing laws, issues with Carp, and the interesting prevalence of Cod over Yellowbelly. He also discusses: the impact of irrigation on water levels, fish migration and breeding; translocating Catfish into dams and the hardiness of the species; a 'red carp' and 'mirror carp' species, the latter with large scales.]]>
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Floods]]> Droughts]]> Siltation]]> Introduced fishes]]> Myxomatosis]]> Rabbits]]> Fishing--Australia]]>
Of the issues facing the Namoi, Darcy feels that silting is a major problem that is contributing to the drying of waterholes. After silting he believes that carp may have also contributed to the declining fish populations.

Mentioned:
Fig trees, clover hay, red river gums, crickets, platypuses, native water rats, ducks, swans, brolgas, red-belly black snakes.]]>

A section of this interview transcript and recording has been masked at the participants request. As part of our data access requirements, ATSIDA requires an applicant to sign an undertaking before access to the full transcript or recording can be approved. These undertakings may include a request for information about the intended use of the data. The depositor and/or participant may be informed of the application.

Preliminary applications may be made to atsida@lib.uts.edu.au. ]]>
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Fishes--Identification]]> Weirs]]> Dams]]> Fish stocking]]> Introduced fishes]]> Siltation]]> Cotton]]> Overfishing]]> Bait fishing]]> Fishery depredation--Prevention]]> Predatory animals--Behavior]]> Fishes--Cannibalism]]>
Don 'Spider' Cunningham is a recreational fisher who is part of the Narrabri Fishing Club and has resided in Narrabri (NSW) his entire life. He has strong ties with the area with his father also from Narrabri and his mother from nearby Wee Waa (NSW).

In this interview Spider discusses his childhood and youth around the Namoi River and also how the onset of maturity saw his views change toward the river to those of conservation and sustainability. He talks about his involvement with the fishing club and how they have been working for the past 25 years on the river. He discusses the fishing restrictions placed upon fishers, restocking efforts, fish feeding habits, the changes of the fish population and the predatory and cannibal nature of the Murray Cod.

Mentioned: Turtle, bream, trout, sparrow, starling, willow tree, azolla. ]]>
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Fishes--Identification]]> Floods]]> Siltation]]> Water quality]]> Fishing--Australia]]> Lippia (Genus)]]> Introduced fishes]]> Stream restoration]]> Erosion]]> Restoration ecology]]>
Eric and Carol Hannan are the owners of the Rampadelles property near Boggabri by the Namoi River and have lived here with their four children since 1973. During this time, the Hannan family have experienced numerous floods, and as a result have devised their own way to prepare for, and survive them.

The interview covers the types of fish in the area, flood patterns and frequency, life surrounding the river and its importance, changing river conditions, and recommendations moving forward.

Mentioned: Willow trees,
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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).]]>
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Fishing industry]]> Fisheries]]> Ecological sustainability]]> Sustainable fisheries]]> River engineering]]> Water quality]]> Water resources]]> Fishes--Breeding]]>
Born in 1941, Henry is a sixth generation commercial fisher, and also ran a yabby restaurant for thirty years. He talks about learning to fish from his father, a commercial fisherman at Renmark, in the Riverland; and his grandfather, a First World War veteran. Henry is a member of the Community Stakeholder Taskforce for the Murray-Darling Basin Native Fish Strategy. His commercial licence covers Lake Albert, Lake Alexandrina, Coorong, and the Great Southern Ocean three nautical miles out from Goolwa to Kingston.

Henry talks about: his fishery's World First Environmental Management Plan and Marine Stewardship; the difference between fishing methods/equipment in the Riverland compared with the windy conditions of the Lakes, Coorong and ocean; sustainable fishing practice; effects of water over allocation (upstream); the lack of intermediate floods from the Murray and Darling, affecting the breeding cycle of fish; salt from irrigation; hypersalinity of Coorong, and possible solutions; the closure of the Murray mouth in 1981; counting bird species; and the increase of seals, sting ray, barnacles, and tube worm in the Coorong (now a marine environment); 1992 flood; plant species.

Other fish species mentioned: 'bull nosed mullet'.
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Fishes--Identification]]> Plants--Identification]]> Siltation]]> Blackwater]]> Water quality]]> Droughts]]> Weeds]]> Weirs]]> Livestock]]>
Henry and Joan Cross live at Goonaroo Station, an 11,000 acre sheep and cattle property. The property is located north of Hebel on the New South Wales and Queensland borders and was purchased by Henry's father. The Bokhara River cuts through their property.

Henry was born at the property 85 years ago. In the river he has caught Catfish (5-6 lbs), Yellowbelly (3-5 lbs), and many Crayfish. One time, he was stung by a Catfish barb. Henry used to use cloth line for fishing, and would bob for fish as there were no lures back then. He could even tell the different fish species from their bites (bite impressions).

The rivers used to run clean. Big worms (up to 2 feet long) were the best bait to use for fishing, and he still sees these worms around.

'Tea Tree Hole' was the most popular place to fish before the weir was built. In the drought of 1958 the hole went dry, and he remembers pulling dying Murray Cod out, but didn't like to eat Cod as they tasted bad.

Henry spent a considerable amount of time on the river with family. Most picnics were on the Culgoa River where the fish were better, the Narran River even better than the Culgoa.

He first noticed the fishing holes fill with silt about 30 years ago. Now trees fall into the holes, which hold up the silt and built-up material. Siltation began before European Carp arrived. The river ran clear before the 1970s and 1980s. Weeds used to grow on the water, but do not any longer.

Siltation now blocks the weirs. Blackwater (black) floods take the oxygen out of the water, killing fish. Dirranbandi saw many dead fish. Thousands of fish died there, including Cod 3 feet long. Trucks were used to load and bury the fish.

Now Culgoa River gets the most water. The weed is dead and it used to have [Red Carp/Spangled Perch/'puppy dogs']. Vegetation on the river used to be River Red Gums, Coolabahs, and the occasional Tea trees and Lomandra.

Today's fishing is very poor. The river has dried out many times - three times after the weir was built in 1958, however, on the property the water is 'very good'.]]>
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Fishes--Identification]]> Crustaceans]]> Artesian basins--Australia]]> Weirs]]> Cofferdams]]> Floods]]> Siltation]]> Turbidity]]> Aboriginal culture]]> Introduced species]]> Aboriginal fish traps]]> Bore water]]>
With over 50 years experience fishing in the region, Keith, George and Robert share their knowledge of the Culgoa-Balonne region. They discuss floods, particularly the 1950 flood; the turbidity and silting of the river; the arrival of European Carp and the resulting impacts on vegetation, Catfish and Black Bream populations; Aboriginal rock corrals; fishing, spinners and their favourite fishing holes.

Mention of the Gapski Scheme (GABSI? Great Artesian Basin Sustainability Initiative?), the replacement of bore drains with 'poly piping', and the resultant changes in the Yabby population.]]>
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Fishes--Identification]]> Connection to Country]]> Cultural flows]]> Dreaming (Spiritual)]]> Aboriginal kinship systems]]> Riparian areas--Management]]> Floods]]> Dams]]> Weirs]]> Cotton]]> Water allocations]]> Fishes--Migration]]> Fishes--Cannibalism]]> Traditional ecological knowledge]]> Yuwaalaraay / Euahlayi / Yuwaaliyaay language ]]> Environmental flows]]> Ecological sustainability]]> Aboriginal spirituality]]> Water--Symbolic aspects]]> Siltation]]> Wetlands]]>
Michael explains the cultural and spiritual importance of the river systems to Indigenous peoples, delving into the history, language and stories of his Ualarai people. The changes in the fish population, and the traditional practices of his people that were implicit in the flourishing of the basin prior to colonisation.

Mentioned: water rat, mud crab.

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