Mutton Fish is the story of the Aboriginal people of the south coast of New South Wales as told through the metaphor of Haliotis (mutton fish). Known to some as "abalone", this has always been a subsistence food: easy to find and harvest, extremely rich in energy, and accessible for as long as the beaches are freely open to all. The authors present a researched history of fishing and Indigenous involvement in the region. It includes interviews with Indigenous people who have participated in the traditional as well as the modern fishing practices in the south coast of NSW. Mutton Fish introduces the current issues of Indigenous cultural practice vs. white law, and the history of how it has come about. The people of the south coast of NSW have a long and complex relationship with the coastal environment - one that has nurtured them for thousands of years. Mutton Fish, unique in its breadth and accessibility, tells of this relationship and what has happened to the south coast people as their access to the coastal resources has been progressively restricted by European competition.

It includes previously unrecorded detail from vernacular first-hand sources (from interview transcripts) as well as historical background about the people of this region, with referenced support from other texts. Topics include coastal habitation and fishing, both traditional and modern, leading up to the competitive nature of commercial fishing. The situation regarding fish and Indigenous rights is also covered. The manuscript is generously illustrated and includes maps.