RECREATIONAL fishers are being encouraged to have their say on a proposal to improve freshwater fishing opportunities by removing the three-month closed season for Murray cod in all waters of the Wimmera and Millicent basins, excluding the Wimmera River.
Removing the closed season in these two basins would deliver year-round fishing opportunities. The Victorian Fisheries Authority says the lakes are stocked, and natural breeding of Murray cod is typically low, so it doesn’t make sense to have a closed season that unnecessarily limits fishing.
The Wimmera and Millicent basins are outside of the natural range of the species and more than two million Murray cod have been stocked into their waters since 2000. A further 600,000 Murray cod will be stocked there next summer.
Chair of VRFish, Rob Loats, said the removal of the Murray cod season in the Wimmera and Millicent basins would provide year-round fishing opportunities for the species, which is better for everyone.
For more information visit www.vfa.vic.gov.au/bettercod or email your feedback to haveyoursay@vfa.vic.gov.au by Sunday 28 March 2021.
