Federal listing to protect cod in Murray

Adelaide Advertiser
Rebekah Devlin

July 2, 2003

THE Murray cod, an Australian icon, has been added to the national list of threatened species.

The fish is thought to have dropped in population by 30 per cent over the past 50 years.

The Federal Government listing will not affect recreational anglers so long as they act within state regulations.

State Fisheries Minister Paul Holloway said the listing "vindicated" the South Australian Government's ban on commercial fishing in the River Murray – a decision which has been fought in the courts by commercial fishers.

"The Federal Government's action has totally vindicated our decision and the timing fits in very neatly," Mr Holloway said.

The ban on commercial fishing came into force yesterday.

Federal Environment Minister David Kemp said the Draft Native Fish Strategy for the Murray-Darling Basin aimed to rehabilitate native fish stocks back to 60 per cent of their pre-European settlement levels, over the next 60 years.

Mr Holloway said the State Government may review bag and catch limits depending on the success of the listing.

"These fish really are icons," he said. "They are massive in size and are a wonderful fish. It would be a tragedy if the numbers were to decline any further."

Australia's largest freshwater fish, the Murray cod can live up to 100 years, grow to 1.8m and weigh up to 110kg.

Current state regulations include a closed season from September 1 to December 31 inclusive, minimum size limit of 50cm, maximum size limit of 100cm, daily bag limit of two for a recreational fisher and daily boat limit of six.