ResearchOnline@JCU This file is part of the following reference: Phelan, Michael John (2005) Indigenous subsistence fishing at Injinoo Aboriginal Community, northern Cape York Peninsula. Masters (Research) thesis, James Cook University. Access to this file is available from: http://eprints.jcu.edu.au/1281/ The author has certified to JCU that they have made a reasonable effort to gain permission and acknowledge the owner of any third party copyright material included in this document. If you believe that this is not the case, please contact [email protected] and quote http://eprints.jcu.edu.au/1281/ INDIGENOUS SUBSISTENCE FISHING AT INJINOO ABORIGINAL COMMUNITY, NORTHERN CAPE YORK PENINSULA Thesis submitted by Michael John PHELAN BSc Qld in December 2005 for the degree of Master of Science in the School of Tropical Environment Studies and Geography, James Cook University INDIGENOUS SUBSISTENCE FISHING AT INJINOO ABORIGINAL COMMUNITY, NORTHERN CAPE YORK PENINSULA "This is a story of how Aboriginal hunt for dugong in the early days. The markings tell of how dugong feed and bear their young offspring." Artist: Roy Solomen, Injinoo Aboriginal Community STATEMENT OF ACCESS I, the undersigned, author of this work, understand that James Cook University will make this thesis available for use within the University Library and, via the Australian Digital Theses Network, for use elsewhere. I understand that, as an unpublished work, a thesis has significant protection under the Copyright Act and; I do not wish to place any further restriction on access to this work. Or I wish this work to be embargoed until: Or I wish the following restrictions to be placed on this work: ___21/06/06_________________________ Signature Date II STATEMENT OF SOURCES I declare that this thesis is my own work and has not been submitted in any form for another degree or diploma at any university or other institution of tertiary education. Information derived from the published or unpublished work of others has been acknowledged in the text and a list of references is given. _____21/06/06_______________________ Signature Date III CONTRIBUTIONS OF OTHERS Supervisor Prof. Helene Marsh School of Tropical Environment Studies and Geography, James Cook University Editorial assistance and research advice Dr Michelle Waycott School of Tropical Environment Studies and Geography, James Cook University Dr Neil Gribble Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries Mr Rod Garrett Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries Mr Chris Roberts Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation Statistical assistance Dr Michelle Waycott School of Tropical Environment Studies and Geography, James Cook University Survey facilitators (Indigenous Subsistence Fishing Survey) Mr Erris Eseli Injinoo Aboriginal Community Mr Shorty Lifu “ “ Mr Steven Ropeyarn “ “ Mr Dale Salee “ “ Mr Jeffery Salee “ “ Mr Doyle Sebasio “ “ Mr Gordon Solomon “ “ Mr Roy Solomon “ “ Mr Nelson Stephen “ “ Mr Frankie Walker “ “ IV Project steering committee Prof Helene Marsh James Cook University Mr Robbie Salee Injinoo Aboriginal Community Mr John Charlton Seisia Charter Boat Association Mr John Clark Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation Mr Bill Kehoe Queensland Seafood Industry Association Mr Peter Finglis Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries Mr Laurie Gwyne Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries Funding source Fisheries Research and Development Corporation External infrastructure support Office space Injinoo Aboriginal Community Council Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation V ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Many people have assisted me during my studies and deserve acknowledgement for their invaluable contributions. Firstly, Chris Roberts instigated this study after hearing the concerns of the people of Injinoo Aboriginal Community (10° 55’ S, 142° 22’ E: see Figure 1.1). If it was not for his drive, this study may not have become reality. I am indebted to Chris for providing me with this opportunity, and for maintaining the constant support over the years that followed. Thanks also to everyone else at Balkanu who contributed. Dr Neil Gribble and Rod Garrett also provided endless support and advice throughout the life of this study. I feel honoured and privileged to have two great mentors. Thanks also to everyone at the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, not just for providing the funding that made this study possible, but also for the professional and friendly support that you always provide. I would also like to thank my supervisor Professor Helene Marsh for her time, advice and support. There are also many others at James Cook University who I must thank for their assistance. In particular, thanks Dr Michelle Waycott and all of the post- graduate students who gave up so much of their own time to train me in finer points of genetics. Thanks to all of the people directly involved in this study; including the project steering committee, the survey facilitators, and the countless fishers who kindly shared their knowledge or their catch. Thanks also to everyone else who provided data, samples or loaned gear, including Bill Sawynok, Ed Woodley, Gary Wright, Tracy Hay, Cherly Johnson and Jenny Ovenden. Finally, I wish to thank all the people of Injinoo Aboriginal Community and the Northern Cape York Peninsula who assisted me in my studies. In particular, I wish to thank the Ropeyarn family for opening up their home to me for such an extended stay. While living at Injinoo I developed close relationships with so many people: your lessons and friendship will never be forgotten. VI ABSTRACT This study responded to concerns expressed by Elders from Injinoo Aboriginal Community regarding the apparent increase in fishing effort targeting aggregations of black jewfish (Protonibea diacanthus) in the waters of Northern Cape York Peninsula. In addition to studying black jewfish, I also examined the harvest of all aquatic resources utilised by the Indigenous subsistence fishers of Injinoo Aboriginal Community. This dual approach was adopted to help alleviate the deficit of data on Indigenous subsistence fishing in Australia. The Indigenous subsistence fishing survey This component of my study was guided by the Indigenous Subsistence Fishing Survey Kit developed by Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation, Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, and the Queensland Environment Protection Agency. Background surveys were conducted in December 1998 and revealed that the vast majority of households at Injinoo regularly harvested marine or freshwater resources for subsistence purposes. Most participated in subsistence harvesting activities on a weekly (64%) or daily (13%) basis, with fishing, hunting and gathering effort extending from Shelburne Bay (11° 49’ S, 142° 58’ E: see Figure 1.1) on the east coast, to Vrilya Point (11° 23’ S, 142° 12’ E: see Figure 1.1) on the west coast. Interview surveys were also conducted in December 1998. They revealed the residents of Injinoo held a clear preference for Indigenous members of their Community to undertake the monitoring surveys. Subsequently, several members of the Community were trained according to the survey kit. The monitoring surveys commenced in January 1999 and continued through to August 2000. Each month, between three to five days was randomly chosen for surveying, providing a total of 70 survey days. The monitoring surveys revealed that the Indigenous subsistence fishers of Injinoo harvested a diverse range of resources. Survey facilitators recorded the harvest of 75 VII marine and freshwater animal taxa. The five most frequently harvested taxa were mullet (Family Mugilidae), sweetlip (Lethrinus spp.), stripey (Lutjanus vitta), snapper (Lutjanus spp.) and black jewfish. While seasonal trends were evident, it was not possible to define the start or end of these periods, or to demonstrate any annual variation. Ten different types of harvesting activities were identified during the monitoring surveys. Handline fishing was the most frequent activity (57% of 491 hours recorded), followed by dugong hunting (15%), turtle hunting (9%) and netting (9%). The mean duration of harvesting trips varied between 0.5 hours when collecting turtle eggs or molluscs, to four hours when hunting dugong. The mean number of people participating in each type of activity was four, with males dominating vessel-based activities and participating exclusively in hunting activities. Harvest rates were highly variable, with netting resulting in the greatest return to the individual fisher (2.7 fish/person hr-1). Fishers often worked as groups in harvesting activities targeting crustaceans (4.6 crustaceans/boat hr-1), molluscs (34.3 molluscs/boat hr-1), and turtle eggs (3.4 nest/boat hr-1). The catch rate for turtle hunting (0.42 turtle/boat hr-1) was higher than that for dugong hunting (0.2 dugong/boat hr-1). This study demonstrated the willingness of an Indigenous community to participate in monitoring programs assessing their use of aquatic resources when the research is conducted in an appropriate manner. Opportunity should be taken to replicate this program in other coastal Indigenous communities of Queensland and beyond. This survey should be repeated at Injinoo Aboriginal Community as soon as possible to assess if any changes have occurred in the fishery. Black jewfish assessments In 1999 and 2000, over eight tonnes of black jewfish were harvested from the waters of the Northern Cape York Peninsula. During