Proposed introduction of more year-round Murray cod fisheries
The VFA is seeking recreational fisher feedback on a fisheries notice proposal to improve freshwater fishing opportunities by removing the three-month closed season for Murray cod at Lake Eppalock, Cairn Curran Reservoir and Lake Nillahcootie.
The key rationale for this proposal includes:
- Hundreds of thousands of Murray cod are stocked annually into these waters (almost four million Murray cod have been stocked since 2010), creating put-and-take Murray cod fisheries. This Summer, we will stock another further 670,000 Murray cod across these lakes (Eppalock – 400,000, Cairn Curran 250,000, Nillahcootie – 20,000).
- Research into Murray cod populations tells us that natural breeding and recruitment in lakes like Eppalock, Cairn Curran and Nillahcootie is typically very low, meaning the closed season has very little benefit to the Murray cod populations and fisheries. However, to protect any small amount of recruitment from inflowing rivers, and to provide clarity to recreational fishers, we have identified fixed river-lake markers at Eppalock and Cairn Curran to maintain the closed season in key inflowing rivers.
- Lifting the closed season on these lakes will shift fishing pressure from nearby natural river systems where Murray cod do breed such as the Loddon and Campaspe rivers.
- A recent VRFish survey of over 1000 recreational fishers identified Lake Eppalock (39% of respondents), Cairn Curran Reservoir (18%) and Lake Nillahcootie (16%) in the top four priority lakes and impoundments for opening to year-round Murray cod fishing in Victoria.
- Lifting the closed season on these waters will provide a valuable boost to regional businesses in Bendigo and central Victoria, through increased fishing tourism visitation between September-December.
- Lifting the closed season on recreational fisheries that are artificially maintained by stocking (put-and-take fisheries), is recognised internationally as progressive fisheries management as shifts fishing pressure from more natural and sensitive breeding fish populations. Fifteen year-round Murray cod fisheries already exist for Murray cod across Australia at Copeton and Blowering Dams (NSW), Beardmore Dam, Beehive Dam, Connolly Dam, Cooby Dam, Coolmunda Dam, Glenlyon Dam, Leslie Dam and Storm King Dam (Qld) and Lake Eildon, Rocklands Reservoir, Taylors Lake, Lake Charlegrark and Lake Bellfield (Vic).
- Lifting the Murray cod closed season on these waters provides more opportunities for people to enjoy fishing in the Bendigo / central Victoria region, consistent with the $96 million Go Fishing and Boating Victoria plan to get more people fishing, more often in more places.
To make a submission on the proposal, please email taylor.hunt@vfa.vic.gov.au by 5pm Tuesday, 16 April..
The VFA have also formally written to key recreational fishing groups relating to this proposal, including VRFish, Mid-Northern and Central Angling Association, Goulburn Valley Association of Angling Clubs, Bendigo Legion Angling Club, as well as prominent local recreational fishers.
For further information, please feel free to call or email Taylor Hunt, Fisheries Manager on 0418 478 028 or taylor.hunt@vfa.vic.gov.au
Background
In 2016, the VFA consulted with recreational anglers and removed the closed Murray cod closed season at Lake Eildon.
The change has been a huge success and provided keen cod fishers with a destination during September, October, and November each year when other cod waters are closed.
Removing the Murray cod closed season at Lake Eildon has delivered year-round fishing opportunities consistent with the State Government’s plan to get more people fishing, more often through its Go Fishing Victoria plan.
Lifting the Murray cod closed season at Lake Eildon has also shifted fishing pressure from rivers, where Murray cod naturally breed and allow them to ‘have a rest when they’re on the nest’, consistent with the Care for Cod campaign.
In 2020, VRFish, the representative body for recreational fishers in Victoria, wrote to VFA requesting the Murray cod closed season be removed in the Wimmera and Millicent basins.
The proposal was discussed by the Murray cod Fisher Reference Group in early 2021 and support provided to lift the closed season on all waters of the Wimmera and Millicent basins, except the Wimmera River. While the Wimmera River is outside the natural range of Murray cod, initial feedback from fishers suggests the species is more likely to breed there and should be afforded the extra protection of the closed season.
In February 2021, the VFA sought recreational fisher input on a Fisheries Notice proposal to remove the three-month closed season for Murray cod in all waters of the Wimmera and Millicent basins, except the Wimmera River. A 30-day public consultation was conducted and the proposal was communicated and shared via a media release, dedicated webpage, social media post. The VFA also formally wrote to key recreational fishing groups inviting their feedback on this proposal, including VRFish, Native Fish Australia, Futurefish Foundation and the Wimmera Anglers Association.
The consultation resulted in support from recreational fishers including from VRFish, Native Fish Australia, the Wimmera Anglers Association and the Mid-Northern Anglers Association and issuing of a Fisheries Notice.
In 2022 and 2023, the VFA consulted with key angling groups including VRFish, Wimmera Anglers Association, the Australian Trout Foundation and key recreational anglers on reissuing the fisheries notice and maintaining year-round Murray cod fishing in these waters. The proposal was supported and as a result, VFA have reissued the Fisheries Notice for 2023.
The VFA will re-consult with recreational fishers on maintaining these regulations in 2024.