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| PROPOSAL TO ESTABLISH RECREATIONAL FISHERIES FOR THE TROUT COD, A RECOVERING ENDANGERED NATIVE FRESHWATER FISH |
Native Fish Australia (Victoria) today released a proposal to establish recreational fisheries for an endangered freshwater native fish, the trout cod also known as the blue nose cod. In the past when more abundant the trout cod, together with its better known relative the Murray cod, were popular targets of anglers. Subsequent to European settlement the trout cod underwent a drastic decline in distribution and abundance so that by the 1970's it was considered to be endangered. Since that time the species has been the subject of state and national recovery programs showing increasing success. Recent evidence for the development of recruiting populations of trout cod in NSW, the ACT and Victoria, as well as the establishment of other significant populations with the potential to reproduce, suggests that the conservation status of the species is improving. NFA (Vic) has carried out a detailed analysis of the possibility of recreating recreational fisheries for the trout cod while at the same time achieving conservation objectives. That the development of recreational fisheries can be used to support conservation efforts is demonstrated in the recovery program for the endangered Mary River cod in Queensland. Mary River cod have been stocked into a number of waters for recreational angling while at the same time meeting conservation goals. This action has had positive effects on community awareness and angler value for this species. The report reviews progress made towards the recovery of the trout cod and identifies and investigates potential waters for stocking with trout cod as has been suggested by anglers. NFA (Vic)'s proposal is to phase in recreational angling for the trout cod as populations recover and it's conservation status improves. Waters considered for the establishment of fisheries within five years are given priority and identified as short term candidates. Additional waters of high merit are identified as having potential for the establishment of fisheries within ten years and are identified as medium term candidates. The report calls for the establishment in the short term, of a small stocked population in one or two small lakes with a view to a bag limit of one fish (in the medium term) and to allow catch and release fishing within part or all of the Ovens River. This short term action is considered necessary to allow limited angler access to trout cod for angling purposes to demonstrate the excellent angling qualities of these fish and so enlist angler support for the recovery process as active stakeholders. In the medium term, proposals for the development of significant recreational fisheries will provide the types of economic and social benefits advocated in recovery plans for the trout cod. NFA (Vic) Project Officer, Nick Thorne, said "This is an opportunity for all those interested in freshwater fishing within Victoria to come together to work towards our mutual goals. We are all fishermen together and we all enjoy the same things in our wonderful outdoor environment. It is not an 'us or them' thing at all. The NFA proposal provides a way that the upland native fish can recover to healthy self-sustaining populations while at the same time allowing opportunities for trout fisheries to be improved. The report outlines a blueprint which can provide security to both trout and native fish anglers about their fisheries" NFA has noted that recent recovery actions by Victorian authorities stocking large numbers of trout cod have resulted in expanding populations of this fish. In some waters, such as the Ovens River, this has lead to this fish becoming an increasingly frequent catch. Current regulations require anglers to release such fish caught when targeting other species and do not allow anglers to target the fish, even for catch and release. As a result, some people are reputedly beginning to regard it as "a bit of a pest". Certainly reports of trout cod encountered by anglers are severely limited by the perception that they are off limits, which hampers the recovery process by distorting the data used to gauge its success. Additionally, some of the areas stocked early in the trout cod recovery program are now showing signs that despite previous indications to the contrary the fish is once again breeding, if only in limited numbers, in many of these locations. This has in part allowed NFA to compare the properties of a number of waters for the purposes of re-stocking and has helped make recommendations about which waters would be suitable for recreational access. NFA is concerned that so long as these fish remain "out of bounds" to anglers, the continued recovery of the fish is at risk and anglers are concerned that their fisheries are effectively being taken away from them by the increased amount of water inhabited by trout cod. "Anglers have supported the no-take policy for trout cod for a long time now," Mr Thorne said "however, in some waters these fish are present in such large numbers that they represent the majority of the fish encountered. This leads to angler frustration and NFA has received reports of some anglers even throwing trout cod up on the riverbank in frustration. We believe that it is now time that anglers be allowed to deliberately target these fish, in a limited fashion, partly as a reward for their forbearance but also so as to engage anglers in further recovery actions." Mr Thorne added, "Trout cod represent an untapped resource as an outstanding sportsfish. They respond well to all forms of angling, bait, lure and both wet and dry fly. As a fish found only in south eastern Australia the trout cod has enormous potential in the medium to long term for anglers and tourist operators alike. Angling can help the recovery process by gaining support for the further extension of the fish's range back into at least some of its original range. In the process we could be building an exciting additional base from which to attract anglers from all over Australia, and the world, to experience this unique hard fighting fish." Nick Thorne can be contacted by mobile phone: 0418 533 901 or by e-mail at The proposal is available for download on the NFA web site at http://www.nativefish.asn.au | |
