National Museum of Australia

Industry

Participants in the slideshow examine how their regions are an essential source of material for a number of important industries. Local flora and fauna, local climate and geography often shape the livelihood of communities.

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Lakes & Coorong Cocklers working in the Southern Ocean

Fishery Information
The original 3,000 aboriginal residents of the Coorong region traditionally fished the rich marine, estuarine and freshwater resources of this highly productive ecosystem. Commercial fishing by white settlers is documented from as early as 1846, and soon developed into a significant supplier of fish to the Adelaide Markets. A limited entry fishery with currently 37 licensed family businesses continues the conservative resource management tradition which has seen the fishery prosper through 151 years.

The diversity of species mirrors the diversity of habitat available to the fishery including the freshwater lakes Alexandrina and Albert, the estuarine/marine/hyper saline Coorong, and coastal waters extending out to three nautical miles from Goolwa Beach.

The dominant commercial species of the fishery currently are yellow-eye mullet, mulloway, cockles, callop (golden perch), carp and to a lesser extent flounder and bony bream.

Fishing methods utilise low mechanisation coupled with highly energy efficient netting and manual harvest types. This results in low by-catch, highly specific methods when undertaken by the well-trained operators. Significant effort reduction has taken place over the past 20 years to make up for gear developments. The fishery directly employs 73 people and indirectly up to 50 more. It produced a GVP in 2002/03 of over $5.0m, which contributes greatly to the regional economy.

Goolwa, David Cooney (Goolwa)

Aerial photo of township

The township of Goolwa is situated on the banks of Lake Alexandrina by the Murray Mouth. It has a lively history as an inland port and is now a vibrant regional centre, experiencing its own 'sea change'.

Goolwa cemetery, David Cooney (Goolwa)

Historic grave at Goolwa cemetery

The Goolwa region has many areas of both environmental and cultural significance. The Goolwa cemetery is an example, being a 'bush for life' site, where an intact stratum of remnant vegetation remains and is protected, and also containing significant links to the early settlement of the area. The large monument at left is the memorial to Captain Bain Johnston, a pioneer of the shipping era. In the late 1800s he operated a cargo and passenger service between Adelaide and Goolwa, which neccesitated navigating the Murray Mouth.

Life is good, David Cooney (Goolwa)

Cafe on Goolwa wharf

This cafe on the Goolwa wharf is always a busy spot. It represents the changing face of Goolwa today, with lots of visitors and a burgeoning population during summer and holidays. It's a great spot to sit and do some boat watching.