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Some info on start of the recovery program of Mary River Cod.
Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee is asking for donations.
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Today is National Threatened Species Day.
Would you believe it was almost 50 years ago when Gerry Cook recognised that Mary River cod numbers and cod habitat were rapidly declining, and a captive breeding program for the species was pioneered. With much trial and error and the ongoing dedication of many volunteers, at last count, over 750,000 Mary River cod fingerlings have been released since the breeding program began, for both conservation stocking in the Mary River catchment, and for recreational fish stocking in specific impoundments and waterways in south east Queensland waterways.
Mary River cod were listed as endangered by the Commonwealth Government in 1992 and in the early 1990’s, when the MRCCC first formed, the Mary River cod was adopted as the group’s signature species. Since then, much of the focus of the MRCCC’s work is aimed at improving cod habitat and ensuring the survival of the species. Also in the early 1990’s, the Mary River Cod Recovery Team was formed with representatives from government and community, and the draft Mary River Cod Recovery Plan was produced, which estimated that as few as 600 cod remained in the wild. Around this time the Mary River Cod Community Network also formed, establishing the CodLine newsletter to spread the word about the plight of the cod.
Over 20 years later and with much changing of hats, the CodLine continues with Issue No. 30 full of articles relating to riparian land management and habitat restoration. As each issue demonstrates, land managers throughout the catchment have embraced the need to protect and conserve cod habitat and improve water quality, not just for threatened aquatic species but also to improve productivity and reduce sediment and erosion.
Despite all the work that’s been done, threats to the cod’s survival remain, including loss of habitat and illegal fishing. The Queensland Government recently passed new legislation aimed at protecting Mary River cod, particularly during the breeding season from August to October.
Mary River cod spawning is triggered by rising water temperature and usually occurs during August/September. The male Mary River cod guards the eggs after spawning, and is very protective of the nest. If a male cod is caught and removed or distracted by a passing lure, even for a short time, the entire season’s offspring are likely to die or be eaten.
This is where the fate of the species lies squarely in the hands of anglers.
For years the cod has been classified as a no take species and it’s illegal for an angler to “target” them in the Mary River Catchment. No angler ever admits to specifically fishing for cod but many accounts and footage on social media suggest otherwise. For a number of years there has been a “closed season” to protect cod in the breeding season, which many anglers seem to be unaware of.
The new fisheries legislation designates that the Mary River and tributaries upstream from the junction of Six Mile Creek and the Mary River, including Six Mile Creek will be closed to all line fishing (or possession of a fishing line) from the 1st August to the 31st October to protect Mary River cod during spawning. This does not include Baroon Pocket Dam, Borumba Dam and Lake Macdonald. In addition, Tinana Creek and its tributaries upstream of Teddington Weir will be closed to all forms of fishing all year round.
To offset the closures, Fisheries are expanding the list of impoundments that stock Mary River cod for recreational fishing to include Wyaralong Dam, Ewen Maddock Dam, Caboolture River Weir, Robina Lakes, Lake Kurwongbah, Enoggera Reservoir and Lake Manchester. This allows the recreational take of 1 Mary River cod minimum size 60 cm all year round in the stocked impoundments.
Meanwhile, the Mary River cod breeding program will continue at the Cooroy property of Hatchery Manager Darren Knowles during Seqwater’s planned reconstruction of the dam wall at Lake Macdonald. The works to relocate the Hatchery equipment and construct 3 new ponds is now complete and the cod are just waiting for the water to warm up so that spawning can commence. Fish stocking groups are encouraged to contact Darren on 0407 126 256 to increase the numbers of Mary River cod in impoundments for recreational fishing. Darren will also be supplying fingerlings to the MRCCC for conservation stocking, so please contact the MRCCC if you would like to be involved in fingerling releases later in the year.
Images courtesy of Gunther Schmida.
$7 raised for MARY RIVER CATCHMENT PUBLIC FUND
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