Released 01/11/2017
A new management plan for Murray cod will help protect the iconic fish while allowing sustainable recreational fishing.
Minister for Planning and Land Management Mick Gentleman said that the new management plan, which comes into effect today would help protect Murray cod in the ACT’s waterways.
“Murray cod are Australia’s largest native freshwater fish and we want to ensure that the species and their environment is protected.
“They are nationally listed as threatened because habitat loss and damage to their environment, in particular sedimentation in waterways has caused a significant decline in population numbers,” Minister Gentleman said.
The formation of the Murray cod management plan will see Murray cod re-stocking efforts in the ACT’s lakes and ponds formalised between the ACT Government and the National Capital Authority.
The management plan also calls on regulations around the amount and size of Murray cod that can be caught to be better enforced by conservation officers.
As part of the Plan the ACT Government will also continue work to restore the Murray cod’s native environment by deepening waterways shallowed by sediment buildup. Work has already been started on this with the completion of the Tharwa fish habitat.
“The ACT Government is committed to caring for the Canberra environment and the animals who live here, and this management plan is reaffirming that commitment,” Minister Gentleman said.
“Murray cod are a very important species, they are the top predator across their range in the Murray-Darling Basin and are part of Aboriginal creation stories about the Murray River. They have long been a traditional food source for Aboriginal communities, and are a favourite of recreational anglers,” Minister Gentleman concluded.
The management plan is available at www.environment.act.gov.au.
- Statement ends -
Mick Gentleman, MLA | Media Releases