Eel worlds of the Dyarubbin: a multispecies ethnography

Abstract

This thesis explores eel–human–river relationships through multispecies ethnography—a transdisciplinary approach recognising more-than-human beings’ agency. Set within the Dyarubbin (Upper Hawkesbury-Nepean) River in New South Wales, Australia, the research is grounded in place and personal connection, reflecting the author’s home and heartland. It focuses on freshwater eels (anguillid species), often overlooked and globally endangered, to challenge human-centred research norms and decentre, but not erase, human perspectives. The study introduces a ‘slippery methodology’, drawing from postqualitative inquiry, feminist posthumanism and more-than-representational theory. This approach embraces diverse forms of being, knowing and doing, including sensory, introspective, observational, scientific, historical, speculative and narrative accounts. It engages with conservationists and fishers, an aquarium, science laboratory, fish market and eel festival to present—not represent—the complex, contested and multiple realities of eel worlds.

To explore this pluriversality, the study works with diffractive modes of analysis. This approach examines how theories, materiality and cultural, social, economic and political contexts interact to co-constitute the practices and doings of a specific place. Diffraction allows this study to engage with ecological sciences, fish biology, environmental humanities, decolonial studies, queer ecology, death geography, more-than-human anthropology and common worlds early childhood education. Central to this diffractive approach is the researcher’s immersive and emotionally engaged positionality, based on the concept of sentipensante—a holistic feeling-thinking. The study contributes to multispecies methodologies and methods to expand the emerging ‘blue humanities’ field. With this passionate, critical and cognitive approach to more-than-human research, the thesis offers pathways for further sensory, sensitive and caring investigations with rich but precarious ecological worlds.

Date of Thesis submission	2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Western Sydney University
Sponsors	Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship
Supervisor	Michele Simons (Supervisor) & Juan Francisco Salazar Sutil (Supervisor)