National Museum of Australia

Birds, Henry (Goolwa)

Composite bird habitat photo

Did you know?
For the past four years Lakes and Coorong fishers have donated their time, boats and navigational expertise to take part in the annual summer wader survey.

Did you know?
In 1999 the Southern Fishermen's Association (SFA) produced the first Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for a fishery anywhere in the world. It was signed off by all 38 fishers in 1999. This led to a partnership with Word Wildlife Federation who sourced funds for the fishery to undergo Marine Stewardship Council certification. Stage two of the EMP is currently under development.

A day's fishing, Henry (Goolwa)

A photo montage of a fishing trip with Justin

The Southern Fishermen's Association (SFA) has won: South Australian Fishing and Seafood Industry Environment Award 1997 and 1999, South Australian Fishing and Seafood Industry 'Fishing for the Future' Environment Award 2001 & 2003, SA Great Regional Science & Environment award 2002.

Fishery Information
Completion of the Coorong Barrage network in 1940 converted 89 per cent of the original estuarine habitat of Australia's most important river into permanently impounded freshwater. European carp have become dominant in this man-modified system after their illegal release into the Murray catchment around 1970. Commercial fishers reduce their impact by developing new markets to make targeting the carp financially viable.

With capped fishing effort coupled with controls over many other aspects of access to individual species (for example, closed seasons, minimum legal lengths), the fishery is essentially limited to taking a sustainable proportion of the available production each year. To further develop their businesses, fishers realise they need to fine tune management, and especially environmental management, to improve their available production. They can also add value through product innovation, improved marketing (especially targeting export potential), waste reduction to zero, and maximum quality enhancement. As a commercial fishery that operates inside a national park and includes a Ramsar wetland of international importance, the SFA understands that the fishers have an obligation in responsibly managing the resource on behalf of the community. This means not only maintaining the environmental integrity of the region but wherever possible enhancing it. The SFA has proactively lobbied for many major environmental initiatives.

Lakes & Coorong SFA Bird Monitoring, Henry (Goolwa)

The Lakes & Coorong area is a wetland of significant importance. (A RAMSAR Site)

Did you know?
For the past four years Lakes and Coorong fishers have donated their time, boats and navigational expertise to take part in the annual summer wader survey. The Southern Fishermen's Association (SFA) has won the South Australian Fishing and Seafood Industry Environment Award (1997 and 1999); the South Australian Fishing and Seafood Industry 'Fishing for the Future' Environment Award (2001 & 2003); and SA Great Regional Science & Environment award 2002.

Birds through the hide window, Belinda (Goolwa)

Birds through the bird hide window at Goolwa

Sitting quietly in the bird hide we are able to see the birds going about their business, generally eating and swimming about peacefully. Who needs a jet ski!

Oyster catchers at the point, Belinda (Goolwa)

Sheltering from the wind on the rocky coast of Middleton Point are some oyster catchers

A stroll along the beach at Middleton at any time of year reveals a host of birdlife. The rugged terrain offers protection for the birds, as it gets very windy in these parts.

Basham's Beach shells, Belinda (Goolwa)

A random selection of shells found in sections along Basham's Beach

A large section of Basham's Beach is covered with beautiful shells in all shapes, sizes and colours that glitter in the sun. The shells are often used for homemade jewellery, but look best massed on the clean sands of Basham's.

Environment