Aquatic Resource Use by Indigenous Australians in Two Tropical River Catchments: the Fitzroy River and Daly River

摘要: Indigenous people of northern Australia make extensive use wild resources as a source food, in their art and craft, for medicinal purposes. These are part socially culturally significant landscape. Using data collected from household surveys across two catchments Australia, the Daly River, Northern Territory (NT) Fitzroy Western (WA), we describe indigenous aquatic resource patterns. The former is perennial system with vegetated wetlands that can remain inundated 4–5 months, while latter cease to flow during winter dry season (May–October) its floods usually last weeks. Subsistence strategies depend on seasonal availability wide array species attuned life histories movement patterns key species, such Long-necked Turtle (Chelodina rugosa) Magpie Goose (Anseranas semipalmata). households harvested different habitats. Our results show clear progression main river channel shortly after wet billabongs late constant reliance tributaries River. Difference utilised appears strongly related habitat use, four five most commonly catchment being non-fish associated billabong Commonly included small bodied used bait popular food Black Bream (Hephaestus jenkinsi) Catfish (Neoarius spp.). Results suggest subsistence vulnerable changes natural systems provide “ecosystem goods,” particularly annual inundation floodplains drives productivity provides some species. Water developments, regulation increased abstraction irrigated agriculture, could adversely affect highly valued customary component economies tropical Australia.