As a fisherman, Torres Strait Islander man Harry Nona lives and breathes Malu - the sea.
Badu Island - 80 kilometres off the northernmost mainland of Queensland - is his home and he's been diving since he was old enough to swim, but he's been professionally diving for 30 years.
He's welcomed the Torres Strait's first climate resilience project focused on its prized fisheries and says he's been seeing the effects of climate change with his own eyes.
"Badu is surrounded by seas and [the] sea for my people on Badu [and the] islands around it, is very important," he said.
"Our people are always travelling across the sea from the island to island."
Leading national scientific organisation, CSIRO, launched the project with funding and support from federal body, the Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA).
Research data will be used to create 3D models that will help map out future impacts of climate change on select animals.
The project focuses on species of great importance to fisheries industries in the region including Kaiar (crayfish), Aber (sea cucumber), Seagrass and fin fish.
But, in a first, it also takes into focus the culturally significant Dugong.
CSIRO’s Torres Webb says traditional knowledge needs to be recognised. Credit: NITV: Carli Willis
Fisheries is very important for our economic livelihood, our own sustenance and survival, and continuing our cultural practices of harvesting marine resources sustainably into the future.
CSIRO says a long history of detailed fisheries data in the Torres Strait made the project possible.
Senior Principle Research Scientist Eva Plaganyi has worked in the region for 15 years, on kaiar surveys which have been running for 35 years.
She said the fisheries of the Torres Strait were revered as some of the best managed in the world.
"Torres Strait Islanders have very strong custodianship, [a] very strong sense of wanting lobsters there for the next generations," she said.
CSIRO. Kaiar or tropical rock lobsters have been studied in the Torres Strait for 35 years. Credit: Supplied
He said similarly to the climate changing environments above the surface - it was transforming the ocean's environment as well.
"I'm worrying about my sea creatures like dugong and turtle, because I've seen changes underneath," he said.
"Where the dugongs are feeding, I can see the sand shifting into the dugong's seagrass feeding grounds.
"There's a lot of seaweed I've never seen before - a dead black seaweed that's covering the rocks and stones and lays on the reef."
'Everything has changed'
Mr Nona said the shifting environment changed where some species like the kaiar - who liked to make homes in between rocks - could live.
He said stories and knowledge, passed down to him through generations, had taught him about the seasons, including how and when to fish.
"Everything has changed because of the climate and it's not longer there anymore," he said.
"I'm worried about the sea levels rising and the waters are getting warmer."
Mr Nona said fish populations didn't seem to be affected yet, but he was concerned about how much more they could take.
He said he is also increasingly concerned about waru (turtle) populations.
"I don't see much for two years now, there's no mating turtles," he said.
"I'm worried about future generations - if I don't see any turtles mating, well we will have a problem in the islands."
Waru are another culturally significant species, of which six of the world's seven species live or migrate to the Torres Strait.
Palilag Island, or Goodes Island, was a location where lobster surveys were conducted. Credit: Supplied
He said he wasn't sure if this was what was causing the phenomena, but he hoped the climate resilience project could help map out their future as well.
CSIRO Senior Research scientist and project Team Leader, Laura Blamey, said with more funding and time, the project could grow to include more species.
She said the waters of the Torres Strait were already warm, and El Nino weather was expected to further increase temperatures.
"Some species can handle some increase in temperature, but when you start pushing that too far, temperature can influence [changes] in reproduction," she said.
Mr Nona hopes turtles could be considered for climate resilient projects in the future. Credit: NITV: Carli Willis
"When you've had a long history across the region, as saltwater people, as people of these islands, we have a long, deep knowledge and a deep history of this region," he said.
"We want to ensure that our knowledge is valued and acknowledged, as scientists ourselves."
