Twined pandanus fish trap
Maker
Shirley Malgarrich
Datec 2003
Object number00038304
NameFish Trap
MediumPandanus grass, plant dyes
DimensionsOverall: 750 x 255 mm
ClassificationsTools and equipment
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionTraps like this were used for thousands of years in rivers, creeks and estuaries when fish were on the move. In the early wet season they swim upstream for breeding in creeks and billabongs, then downstream to spend the dry season in larger rivers. The traps would be set to face the oncoming fish, with woven fencing either side. Within the mouth of the trap is a woven funnel that guides the fish in and prevents their escape. The clever design ensures that only adult fish are caught as smaller fish can escape through the weaving or even through the funnel. The fish that are caught can survive in the trap for up to two months. Once the trap is removed, the end is untied to remove the fish. This sustainable design means the trap can be used again and again.HistoryManingrida community in the central northern Arnhem Land coast is in the traditional homelands of the Kunibidji people and is one of the country’s largest Aboriginal communities, with over 2000 residents. The community is located on the coastal estuary of the Liverpool River and is five-hundred kilometres east of the regional capital of Darwin.
