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Murray Cod - Description
Highly valued for recreational, commercial and conservation purposes, the murray cod (Maccullochella peeli) is the largest freshwater fish found in Australia. Its natural distribution extends throughout the Murray Darling Basin, ranging west of the divide from southeast Queensland, through New South Wales, into Victoria and South Australia.
Until recently, there was a small but lucrative commercial fishery for murray cod and premium prices were often paid for fish at the markets. However, as a result of declining wild stocks the murray cod fisheries in New South Wales and Victoria have since closed, and the remaining fishery in South Australia will cease in July 2003. The growout of murray cod is supplementing, and will eventually replace, the diminishing wild fishery in markets.
In New South Wales, murray cod have also been introduced into many dams and some eastern flowing (coastal) drainages.
The translocation of western drainage species such as murray cod, golden perch, silver perch and catfish into the eastern drainages, however, may have the potential to cause significant ecological damage. Specifically, the translocation of murray cod may threaten the endangered eastern freshwater cod in the Clarence and Richmond river systems.
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Farming Production
In January 2000, around 25 farms in three states (New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia) produced murray cod, and many more were licensed to grow murray cod but were not producing. About ten were supplying fingerlings for sale and seven had produced table fish. The vast majority of fingerlings were being extensively reared in earthen ponds, while table fish were being produced both extensively in ponds and intensively in recirculating systems.
The number of farms producing murray cod has increased considerably since 2000. In August 2002 the number of farms with murray cod on site was 62. Of these, fifteen produced fingerlings for sale and nineteen produced table fish. Murray cod aquaculture also commenced in Queensland and Western Australia.
Originally thought to be unsuitable for intensive culture because of its aggressive and territorial nature, murray cod growout was initially conducted extensively in farm dams. However, trials have shown that the species can do well in intensive recirculation tank systems that permit higher stocking densities and more consistent growth rates (NSW
Fisheries 2000). Most production now occurs in recirculating systems, with some farmers finishing off murray cod extensively in ponds.
In 2001-02, New South Wales farmers produced 8.2 tonnes of murray cod valued at $166 000 at the farm gate, however, is now the largest producing state, primarily because of the success of one large recirculating system.
Victorias Department of Natural Resources and Environment does not report murray cod production separately, but Austasia Aquacultures 1999-2000 status report quoting industry sources, reported Victorian production at 90 tonnes in 1999-2000, and increasing.
A state parliamentary inquiry into the utilisation of Victorias native flora and fauna (Environment and Natural Resources Committee 2000) also noted that almost all Victorian production came from one operation, Australian Aquaculture Products at Euroa (formerly Australian cultured eels). Originally set up to produce eels for the domestic and export markets, the company had diversified and was now focusing on growing murray cod in an intensive aquaculture system. The companys combined production of murray cod and eels in 2000 was reported to be around 120œ130 tonnes.
(
REF. Australian Aquaculture. Industry profiles for selected species)
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