Australian inland rivers continue to deteriorate despite efforts towards more coordinated management approaches and, as a result, most species of native fish in these waterways are under great pressure.

The massive and erratic fluctuations of many rivers have been drastically altered and regulated before they have been fully understood. In addition, land clearing, barriers to fish passage, introduced species and pollution have been detrimental to native fish. Given the variability of inland river systems, forming a long view on ecological change is important, yet a major difficulty for ecologists studying these systems and their freshwater fish is the shortage of information on their historic conditions.

Fish Everywhere! An oral history of fish and there habitats in the Gwydir River tracks ecological change through the memories of 33 longterm residents from different communities within the catchment area below Copeton Dam.

Itnclude information on:

• A history of decline: The Gwydir before and after regulation
• Fish and rivers: Tracking the changes
• Native Fish of the Gwydir river
• Carp: A cautionary tale
• Fewer creatures great and small
• River banks and water plants
• River bed and channel