Mr Grant Brown, Dr Maarten De Brauwer1
1Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour, Australia, 2Yaegl Rangers, Maclean, Australia
Biography:
Maarten is a research scientist at Southern Cross University (NSW, Australia) where he leads a statewide estuarine monitoring program in collaboration with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. His interests range from marine ecology, extinction risk dynamics and syngnathid fishes, to the large-scale integration and operationalisation of eDNA methods
Abstract:
Estuaries in northern New South Wales (Australia) have long been impacted by human use such as intensive agriculture, habitat alteration, and urbanisation. Estuaries such as the Clarence River, have been used intensely since colonisation, but management has rarely been aligned with practices or knowledge of the local Yaegl People. In the aftermath of the severe 2022 flood, the NSW Estuary Asset Protection (NEAP) Program was created to assist in flood recovery and increase resilience to future floods. The ‘Cultural Heritage Protection’ theme within NEAP aims to help restore culture practices throughout NSW by supporting First Nations-led initiatives and management of an Aboriginal cultural landscape in the lower, tidal reaches of estuaries. One aspect of the cultural heritage protections is alignment with the NEAP statewide monitoring program. The Yaegl Rangers not only helped executing this program, but they also designed and conducted their own program tailored to survey culturally important sites and practices. Using eDNA metabarcoding, the rangers surveyed 30 sites in the Clarence and Sandon River estuaries, with results expected soon. Results will help guide the restoration and ongoing management of Yaegl cultural heritage in the region. The aim is to make this project ongoing and help Yaegl people to look after their Country, keep their culture strong and for their community to prosper socially and economically.