SUSTAINABILITY
The Aboriginal community have always revered Moonbirds and by –
product as an essential food resources and is one of the main continuing
cultural gathering activities that the community still engages in when the
resource is available seasonally from mid to late autumn.
Moonbirds and by – product are a vital part of Aboriginal diet throughout
the winter period. Moonbirds are also harvested commercially by the
community, a few years ago the (C.S.I.R.O) Commonwealth – Scientific –
Industrial – Research – Organization studied and reported that the number
of Moonbirds being seasonally harvested at that time for dietary needs for
both personal and commercial use were well within sustainable limit’s. The
annual harvest figure’s reported at that time was between 200,000 and
300,000 birds annually. The C.S.I.R.O study also concluded that based on
the above figures, a threefold increase from the current level would still be
well within sustainable limits. Since this C.S.I.R.O study the annual harvest
of Moonbirds by the Aboriginal community has been further reduced to
between 100,000 and 130,000 birds annually.
The commercial operators have decreased the number further to ensure
the longevity and wellbeing for both the Moonbirds and community into
the future.
