Caring for Country
Always Was, Always Will Be.
Each year during NAIDOC week we recognise that First Nations people have occupied and cared for this continent for over 65,000 years. For OzFishers we’re also passionate about restoring, protecting and learning about Country. One of the greatest ways to do this is – together – through sharing and celebrating culture, learning from traditional owners and getting input on traditional ways that work which can bring a healthy ecosystem back to life.
Our First Nations people have profound understanding and connection to Country that can never be underestimated.
The OzFish Maroochy Chapter is an Indigenous OzFish Chapter and part of the Bunya Bunya Country Aboriginal Corporation which supports Kabi Kabi Traditional Owners to carry out their work to restore degraded parts of Country. The group has been active for more than 14 years and they became involved in OzFish soon after we first started out in 2017.
The volunteers have undertaken a wide range of environmental and conservation projects including mangrove revegetation, weed eradication, cultural heritage works, mapping endangered species, and feral animal identification.
Chapter President and proud Kabi Kabi man Kerry Jones said volunteers have been hard at work restoring mangroves up on the Maroochy River.
They propagate four different native species in preparation for plantings at their own native nursery. In addition to this they’re re-establishing an old oyster lease using cultural practices. All to create a healthy waterway and better fish habitat.
“It’s not only creating fish, crab, and shellfish habitat, it’s also stabilising the bank and stopping erosion. We are helping the river system out and making better habitat for all living things in and around the river,” Kerry said.
Connection to Country is a reciprocal and interdependent relationship between people and their ancestral lands and seas. The lands and seas sustain and provide for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders not only physically but also spiritually, socially and culturally. In the same way, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders manage and sustain the environment through culture and ceremony.
“Traditional Owners have a long running connection to Country,” said Kerry, whose family have long been affiliated with the Sunshine Coast region.
“We want to be there to look after the river systems, they provided resources for our families and other families back in the day. We want to get the health of the water back to how it was for future generations.
His favourite spot on the Maroochy is not too far from Bli Bli where his family have been coming for generations. Today, they still perform traditional practices there including fishing and teaching.
“Educating children about the importance of looking after Country is essential.
“The Maroochy has looked after us for so long, we have to look after it in return.
Very much a keen fisher, Kerry’s favourite fish to snag is a mangrove jack. He uses traditional methods including cast netting and you’ll never catch him buying bait. He sources all of his bait himself and makes sure that he never takes too much from one place.
Kerry has a sharp eye when it comes to identifying mud crab holes, with knowledge that has been passed down for generations. His father taught him how to hook mud crabs and he can often be seen in the mangroves hunting crabs today.
Elaborating on some of the changes he has seen in his time, Kerry spoke about river systems being impacted by major development, increases in sediment, and declines in fish, mud crabs and shellfish.
“We can see change all of the time and it’s not always for the better.
He is looking forward to building on the work of OzFish to enhance fish habitat and improve water quality for future generations. Shellfish reef restoration, revegetation of old cane farms and more public involvement in restoration works are all things that he would like to see in the region.
OzFish acknowledges the Traditional Owners of this land and we pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.