Droughts]]> Riparian areas]]> Fishes--Identification]]> Crustaceans]]> Weirs]]> Dams--Australia]]> Fishing industry]]> Fishing nets]]> Water quality]]> Fishing regulations]]> Fishes--Migration]]> Floods]]> Droughts]]> Cotton]]> Introduced species]]> Billabongs]]>
Bill, a professional fisher since 1953, resides in the small town of Wentworth in northern Victoria. Born in 1926, his life experiences of the neighbouring areas of the Murray, Darling and the Great Darling Anabranch reveal numerous changes to the region in terms of fish, crustaceans, the fluctuating commercial demand of fish, and the health of the river systems. Bill also discusses his preferred fishing techniques, areas he likes to fish, government regulations, and the impacts on his region that are a result of irrigation and farming further up the basin.

He also talks about: yabbying in the Paroo River; finding large mussel populations in billabongs; drought and flood cycles of the 1960s, 1970s; differences in water quality and its decline since the 1950s; reduction in water quality in the Culgoa River since the St George Weir was built; the impact of European Carp on Catfish, little water snails and mussel beds.]]> CC-BY]]> Weirs]]> Floods]]> Local history]]> Droughts]]> Water quality]]> Irrigation]]> Eucalyptus camaldulensis]]> Soldier settlement]]>
Born in 1941, Carmel talks about her life growing up in Merbein, near Mildura, on the Victorian side of the Murray River. She recalls fishing with family and swimming as a teenager in the Murray, "...we used to be able to see our feet in the water...". In her youth she did research on the floods; and as an adult she communicates her extensive knowledge of the river through her employment.

In the interview Carmel discusses: local history of the Murray-Darling; water allocation and building of weirs; a cofferdam; soldier settlements in Wentworth; the 1956 flood and assistance by soldiers during this time; seasons; water volumes; rainfall patterns; dependence of the Murray River on Darling River flows.

She mentions weirs at Wentworth, Burtundy, Mildura and the unique Perry Sandhills, 400 acres of shifting dunes, marked by a Murray River Red Gum Tree (Eucalyptus camaldulensis). Called the God Tree, it is over 500 years old, and covered so much by the sand that you can stroll through its canopy.]]> CC-BY]]> Fishes--Identification]]> Crustaceans]]> Reptiles--Identification]]> Plants--Identification]]> Weeds]]> Fossils]]> Floods]]> Floodplains]]> Droughts]]> Fieldwork]]> Billabongs]]>
Born in 1974, Clayton grew up in Mildura, angling and yabbying in the irrigation channels, rivers, backwaters and the Great Anabranch. A passionate recreational fisher and scientist, Clayton recalls memories of the Riverina before the changes to irrigation in the 1990s; the ancient rivers and creeks around Mungo National Park; Darling River floods and floodplains; floods (1990s); droughts (1980s, 2000s).

Mention of Witchetty (Bardi) grubs, moths, and a variety of Gudgeon fish species.]]> Paakantyi / Paakantji / Barkindji people]]> Fishes--Identification]]> Crustaceans]]> Indigenous foods]]> Cotton]]> Weirs]]> Land custodianship]]> Aboriginal history]]> Cultural flows]]> Connection to Country]]> River flow]]> Cotton]]> Droughts]]> Water allocations]]> Traditional ecological knowledge]]> Nations Committee (NBAN).

Born in 1956, Jenny talks about families and growing up on the river at a camp on the Darling at Menindee; living, working and playing together. She discusses the drought years from 1985 and the blue-green algae bloom that ran from Mungindi to Menindee. Jenny also speaks about what cultural flows are, and how they are important as they are the inherent water entitlements of Indigenous Nations.

Mention of perch as a significant part of diet however species is undefined; Witchetty grubs, turtles, eagles, porcupine, kangaroo.]]>
Electronic records have been made private as per the request of Jenny Whyman. 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.]]> Fishes--Identification]]> Crustaceans]]> Birds--Identification]]> Reptiles--Identification]]> Plants--Identification]]> Dams]]> Blackwater]]> Water--Law and legislation]]> Droughts]]> Weeds]]> Fish stocking]]> Billabongs]]> Introduced species]]> Water quality]]>
Born in 1955 at Mildura, Rodney grew up on the Darling. He has witnessed the changes in the native fish population, particularly relating to the arrival of the European carp; the decimation of Catfish; restocking; fish kills at Wakool; the removal of Willow trees; the disappearance of bird life following the wave of the calcivirus; blackwater and its impacts on the region; yabbying; fishing techniques; the way fish behave during droughts; the Darling floods of 1956 and 1976, and the various flora and fauna present in the region.

He also shows the research crew Fort Courage and talks about fishing at the junction of the two systems, including a description of a "mini delta" in the Anabranch when it runs.

Mention of 183 Dam and a fish species 'Minnow' (unspecified).]]> CC-BY]]> Fishes--Identification]]> Plants--Identification]]> Droughts]]> Weirs]]> Paakantyi / Paakantji / Barkindji people]]> Water allocations]]> Overfishing]]> Colonisation]]> Racism]]> Traditional fishing]]> Cotton]]> Connection to Country]]> Water quality]]> Introduced fishes]]> Environmental flows]]> Traditional ecological knowledge]]> Aboriginal fish traps]]>
Born in 1934, William talks about growing up in Wilcannia and Broken Hill in north-western New South Wales. He recalls being taught to fish by his Grandmother and Aunties using hand lines and fish traps. William talks about the effects of colonisation and racism on his life, and how important the river then becomes.

William discusses his work campaigning for change with Northern Basins Aboriginal Nations (NBAN); he compares the 1944 and 2007 droughts and the differences in atmospheric moisture; the impact of the introduction of carp on catfish; the impact of fishing on cod populations; and the changes in water flow and clarity, exacerbated by tree roots, weeds, and chemicals from irrigators.

Mention of: plants River Red Gum, Cumbungi weed; fish perch (species undefined).




]]> CC BY-NC]]> more details... ]]> Atlas of Living Australia]]> Climate Change Adaptation Research Program (CCARP) Database of Watering Requirements - Images; Photographer: Hugh Jones (Office of Environment and Heritage)(CC-BY-NC)  see details...]]> Atlas of Living Australia]]>
Batemans Marine Park covers approximately 85,000 hectares, extending from the north end of Murramarang Beach near Bawley Point to Wallaga Lake in the South. It includes all of the seabed and waters from the mean high water mark on the coast to three nautical miles offshore. It includes all estuaries, creeks, rivers and lakes (except Nargal Lake) to the limit of tidal influence.

]]> http://www.mpa.nsw.gov.au/pdf/bmp-zoning-map.pdf]]>
However, the data is an interesting complement to the Study Regions from the Talking Fish project, so the data of 7 respondents who kindly gave permission to be involved has been included. ]]>