It’s that time of year when Mary River cod are gearing up to do what Mary River cod have done for millennia – to make babies. Mary River cod are one of Australia’s most endangered freshwater fish, so the success of their efforts is vital for the long term survival of the species. Although abundant at the time of European settlement, cod were seriously overfished, not only with lines but also with nets and even explosives.
This overfishing, combined with destruction of riparian vegetation along the Mary River and tributaries, the only place Mary River cod naturally occur, has meant their population has plummeted to perhaps as few as 600 in the wild.
While anglers are mostly aware that the cod is a no-take species and that any cod accidentally caught should immediately and carefully be released, few are aware of the total fishing bans in place in specific areas in the Mary River catchment to coincide with the breeding season.
The Mary Valley Catchment Coordinating Committee advise there is a total fishing ban all year round in Obi Obi creek between Baroon Pocket Dam and Obi Obi Creek crossing 4 (Manual Hornibrook Bridge).
In addition there is a closed season from the 1 August to 31 October in the Mary River and adjoining waterways upstream of its junction with Six Mile Creek just south of Gympie. The Fisheries website advises that closed season means that a person must not possess or use a fishing line in those waterways during that three month period, which it timed to coincide with cod breeding.
Fines apply for those in breach of this regulation. The only sites exempted from this closed season are Baroon Pocket Dam, Borumba Dam and Lake Macdonald.
Another threat to Mary River cod is the current low water levels in waterways throughout much of the catchment. Widespread decent rain is needed to ensure that water levels increase and water temperatures remain cool for the cod.
On a positive note, Cooroy Hatchery Manager, Darren Knowles has reported a number of successful spawnings of the Mary River cod broodstock to date. Darren is quietly confident that there will be a record number of fingerlings available for conservation stocking in the Mary Catchment later this year. Contact the Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee on 5482 4766 if you are interested in helping with the release of fingerlings.
