Reviving Yolŋu Fishing Traditions to Restore Waterways

In 2024, a Yolŋu-led initiative brought together traditional knowledge and modern conservation efforts to address the ecological challenges faced in Yolŋu Country. Bula’bula Arts, in collaboration with The Arafura Swamp Rangers Aboriginal Corporation (ASRAC) and the Learning on Country Program (LoC), embarked on a project to collect data to help restore freshwater fish populations through the use of traditional fish trapping methods.

Due to the introduction of invasive species such as water buffalo, the natural food sources in Yolŋu Country have significantly diminished. The Arafura Swamp Rangers have been researching sustainable ways to reverse this decline. With a particular focus on determining the presence of freshwater fish in the waterways, the rangers are developing methods to replenish their populations.

Through recognising the limitations of modern materials like metal and plastic, which can have detrimental environmental impacts, the ASRAC and Bula’bula Arts leaders decided to employ ancient Yolngu fishing techniques for data collection. This sustainable approach would not only be effective for conservation efforts but also reinforce traditional ecological knowledge.

Master weavers from Bula’bula Arts played a key role in crafting a variety of fish traps and a three-meter-long drag net. These traditional designs, developed over generations, were specifically created to catch different fish species, showcasing the depth of Yolŋu expertise in managing aquatic ecosystems.

This project was about more than just restoring fish populations; it was also a vital opportunity for intergenerational learning. The Learning on Country Program (LoC) collaborated with ASRAC and Bula’bula Arts to involve young people in the initiative. Students were taken to the waterways, where they learned traditional fish trapping methods. This allowed students to gain hands-on experience in environmental conservation while strengthening their cultural identity.

By restoring fish populations, the project aims to enhance food security for Yolŋu communities. Bush foods are essential to a healthy lifestyle, and the return of freshwater fish will provide a key nutritional resource. Additionally, the initiative fosters cultural pride by passing down ancestral knowledge, ensuring that Yolŋu traditions continue to thrive.

This project is a powerful example of how Indigenous knowledge can drive meaningful conservation efforts while strengthening cultural heritage. By weaving together tradition, education, and environmental sustainability, the Yolŋu people are ensuring a healthier future for both their waterways and future generations.

About the Arafura Swamp Ranger Aboriginal Corporation (ASRAC)

Gurruwiliny, which is known as the Arafura Swamp, its catchment and adjacent sea country stretches across about 1,200 square kilometres in central Arnhem Land, about 450km east of Darwin. This vast area supports over a thousand species of plants and hundreds of fish, bird, mammal, reptile and other animal species. Its large and diverse wetland habitats support as many as 300,000 birds at any one time. It is Aboriginal-owned land and sea country. Our rights are protected by the Aboriginal Land Rights Act.

“Our landowners have strong control of what can happen there, who can visit and what they can do. They come from groups in the region and work towards our Healthy Country Plan. Healthy country, healthy tucker, healthy families, living on our homelands. The right people are speaking for Country, passing on the knowledge from the old to the young.”

Learn more about the Arafura Swamp Ranger Aboriginal Corporation here.

About the Learning on Country Program

The Learning on Country Program is a joint initiative between Aboriginal Ranger groups and 17 schools across the Top End, which engages Indigenous students in remote areas of the NT through education, with a focus on ‘both ways’ learning within their secondary school curriculums. It’s this combination of curriculum and culture that builds the skills, confidence and capacity of our future leaders to walk strong in two worlds. The ‘two toolbox approach’ incorporates both Western and Indigenous knowledge systems to deliver culturally appropriate education and training for remote students’ learning and employment pathways, with a strong focus on intergenerational transfer of culture and traditional knowledge.

Learn more about the Learning on Country Program here.

Bula’bula Arts would like to deeply thank the Macdoch Foundation for supporting this project.