Protecting The Mary River Cod
22 December 2003

The Department of Primary Industries is encouraging anglers to brush up on their freshwater fishing regulations this summer, particularly the rules for Mary River cod.

An endangered species, Mary River cod are totally protected in Queensland except in some stocked dams.

Queensland Fisheries Service (QFS) senior policy officer Michelle Hollaway said it was important anglers were aware of the recreational fishing rules for Mary River cod to help to protect and conserve this rare freshwater fish.

Ms Hollaway said Mary River cod were once distributed extensively throughout south-east Queensland but were now found naturally only in parts of the Mary River system.

“Numbers of Mary River cod are now very low and have declined over the years mainly due to habitat loss,” she said.

“They are now considered rare or extinct in the Brisbane, Stanley, Albert, Logan and Coomera River systems.”

However, Ms Hollaway said some dams were stocked with Mary River cod to allow people the opportunity to recreationally fish for them, although regulations still applied.

There is a legal minimum size limit of 50cm and take and possession limit of one per person from Cressbrook, Hinze, Maroon, Moogerah, North Pine, Somerset and Wivenhoe Dams and Lakes Dyer (Bill Gunn Dam) and Clarendon.

Ms Hollaway said the Mary River cod was protected everywhere else in Queensland but if accidentally caught, the fish should be released carefully and gently back into the water.

“If anglers follow these rules there is a chance that stocks of this iconic fish could improve and save it from extinction,” she said.

Department of Primary Industries Media Unit
GPO Box 46 Brisbane Qld 4001 Ph 07 3239 6380
DPI Call Centre 13 25 23 (weekdays 8 am to 6 pm)

Further information: Michelle Hollaway (07) 3227 7259
Communications Officer: Liz Smith (07) 3224 7757

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