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A Bid To Save "DALA" the Queensland Lungfish |
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EXTINCTION IS FOREVER!
A BID TO SAVE “DALA”, THE QUEENSLAND LUNGFISH, AN ENDANGERED SPECIES IN THE MARY RIVER ACROSS WHICH A DAM IS PROPOSED TO BE BUILT
By Eve Mumewa Doreen Fesl,OAM,CM,PhD (nee Evelyn Serico), Gubbi Gubbi Elder
Imagine being able to link your history back 380 million years? Impossible you say? Yes, for humans, but we have one resident of Queensland who can do that – THE QUEENSLAND LUNG FISH (Neoceratodus forsteri). The lung fish appeared on earth 180 million years before the dinosaurs and found a habitat which enabled it to live into our days.
Is it right that we humans are contemplating the destruction of this pre-historic example of evolution because of five years less rainfall than we used to have? This living fossil link is the evolution of all our feathery and hairy fellow creatures with fishes There are six species of lung fish in the world belonging to two families. One family contains a single species only, and this is our Queenslander, making it a very rare species indeed.
What is special about our lung fish is that it has only one lung, while all other species have two (paired) lungs. World-wide lung fish are very rare and endangered because they rely on special habitats that increasingly are occupied by humans.
The natural habitat of the Queensland lung fish is restricted to the Burnett and Mary River systems. The Queensland lung fish is unique in the world, making it a creature of highest biodiversity value and significance. It is a rare natural asset which we have a duty to protect. Its uniqueness, the links to the past, afforded by its natural habitat confined to our State, should be sufficient reasons in themselves for highest protection priorityf or this creature and the habitat on which it depends to ensure the survival of a viable population – the only one of its kind on the planet.
CULTURAL HERITAGE: However, another important reason to protect it, is that it is a sacred (totemic) fish of the Gubbi Gubbi people. We never killed or ate the fish, and saw it as important to protect it. We call it “Dala” and for reasons associated with its important place in our culture, we were often referred to by other Aboriginal groups, as “the Dala” people. Our traditional land encompasses the Mary River basin and its catchments. The Mary Cod is an important economic fish, but the Dala (Lung Fish) are not to be killed but protected from harm. The lungfish’s longevity of life and occupancy of our waterways, is undoubtedly due in part, to its protection by our people over tens of thousands of years. We are still bound by this duty of care – the reason for my penning this document in an appeal for help for the survival of “Dala”.
LEGISLATION: Through the Integrated Planning Act (1997), now embodied in the South East Queensland Regional Plan (2005), the State government committed itself to “recognise, protect and conserve Aboriginal values in land, water and natural resources” (section 7.4). It also recognises the principle and policies to “conserve and manage the region’s biodiversity values” and “ensure land use planning and development activities “..respect identified biodiversity values” in order to “protect, manage and enhance areas of ..biodiversity significance: (section 2.1). p.t.o The proposed dam on the Mary River clearly violates the SEQ Regional Plan because the Mary-Burnett basin is known to be the only natural habitate of the Queensland Lungfish.
It also ignores the Gubbi Gubbi cultural heritage values and the reverence we give to this creature. Studies to date give sufficient reason to not dam the river, however, if further studies are undertaken for developments which involve use of water from the Mary River, the following should be given special attention: Studies must involve fresh-water stream ecologists and other scientists using the most up-to-date technologies and methodologies. The issue is too critical to rely on outdated practices. (Data to date indicates that our lung fish transported to other catchments have not done well, so tranportation is not an answer).Its eggs are attached to specific aquatic plants during August to December. However, it is slow growing, taking 2 years to reach 1.2 cm. and 100 years to reach its maximum size of 1.5 m. The plants on which eggs are laid, should also be the subject of study and care. With its long life span, the fact that Dala fails to reproduce under altered conditions such as those caused by a dam will go unnoticed for years – but then it will be too late to rectify the mistakes we make today, which will destroy Dala forever.
SUMMARY: Effects of dams on Queensland Lung Fish (“Dala” to the Gubbi Gubbi people)
- Dams prohibit the possibility of migration over the long distances they need during spawning
Dala requires shallow, flowing riffles and glides amongst dense beds of submerged aquatic plants to lay its eggs – these do not exist within a dam.
Breeding Area 300 m South of proposed dam site at Traveston Crossing (Photo: E. Fesl - 17/5/2006) Note riffles (shallow water rapids) top left hand side. Breeding cannot occur in the deep waters of a dam.
There are many issues associated with the need for riffles, optimum water quality, and so on, but the bottom line is:
Do people in Queensland, Australia and around the globe care enough to protect Dala, the Queensland Lungfish and its habitat? Let the Premier of Queensland and Government, (Parliament House, Brisbane) know your views! Dala budawathin!
Eve Mumewa DoreenFesl
Please forward to all who may help. Advise me by short email of your support efesl@cytech.com.au 29 Fountain Road, Burpengary – 4505, Queensland, Australia Tel: 07-3888-5219
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