Mighty Murray Cod becoming extinct fast

[Member]

So with the murray cod becoming a rare catch these days why havent the goverment made it a no take speices

[Member]

So with the murray cod becoming a rare catch these days why havent the goverment made it a no take speices

On the contrary, I think in many areas Murray cod have been making a recovery due to habitat restoration, removal of redundant weirs and the addition of fishways on many.

[Member]

So with the murray cod becoming a rare catch these days why havent the goverment made it a no take speices

The Murray Cod is still listed as endangered but not rare by any stretch. They are making a great come back thanks to all the things that Fitzy listed plus a fair bit of re-stocking. In fact some would say they are overstocked in places like the Dumaresq. Many of the Cod here are way too small for their age which some believe is due to not enough food for the fish population. However I'm yet to pull a skinny Cod from that river.
JD

[Member]

That is true, but i still believe that they should make them a no take speicies for it will let them recover alot faster 

[Member]

It depends where you fish for them.  Remember, making them a no take species means that you cannot target them at all!  I'd like to see how a lot of Murray River locals would take the news.  A huge lure industry would be killed.  You'd have to close Copeton, glen Lyon, mulwala and a few other dams as well.

[Member]

http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=66633
FYI

[Member]

       I suspect that if we were not allowed to fish for them their extiction would be ensured. The profit from chasing cod helps ensure their existence. As our technology and understanding of fish like carp increases particularly in how to irradicate them cod and yellas may once again return as the main inhabitants of the murray- darling system. Ron.

[Member]

I'd second that Ron.
JD

[Member]

Weel I did ask people to discuss this topic a few weeks ago.

So lets put it here then and see what happens

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/cod-farming-scaledup-to-tempt-asian-markets-20130303-2fevv.html#ixzz2MW4hsaEG

[Member]

Had full closures in SA for a while haven't they?

[Member]

Farming them is becoming a big industry.
http://www.condabillafish.com/aboutus.htm
http://www.condabillafish.com/murraycod.htm
This mob apparently will take all the fingerlings that hatcheries can produce.
 Cheers
Ray

[Member]

It's mind blowing that it's ok to commercially market a species that has spent the last twenty years trying to recover from past indiscretions. State Governments still have recreational fishing restrictions implemented, stocking groups have poured a lot of time and money into their recovery and the species is listed as vulnerable.

Seems it's ok if there's a dollar to be made.

[Member]

Its simple, if there is a dollar to made, they will be saved.

[Member]

I cannot really see how commercial farming of Murray Cod will have an adverse effect on our recreational angling activities.  They've been doing it with Barra for bloody years.

[Member]

Don't have a problem with commercial farming, just found it a bit strange that there was a commercial market for a species that hasn't fully recovered and is still listed as vulnerable (same as the Australian Lungfish). I don't think Barramundi has had to recover in the same way as the Murray Cod, but in saying that you are right, commercial farming has probably aided in protecting the Barra from the same fate.