NINE thousand trout cod fingerlings have been released into the Macquarie River above Burrendong Dam in NSW. The fish were bred at NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) Narrandera Fisheries Centre.
Hatchery Manager at the centre, Matthew McLellan, said this was the third of a five-year program stocking this stretch of the Macquarie River under the “Species Recovery Plan” for the threatened species.
“The fingerlings are 40mm long and have been calcein marked to allow easy identification of the stocked fish in any follow up study,” McLellan said.
A number of regional volunteers from The Central Acclimatisation Society were involved with coordinating the release of the fingerlings.
A trout cod during breeding at the Narrandera Fisheries Centre. Pic: Matthew McLellan, NSW DPI.
“More than one million trout cod bred at Narrandera Fisheries Centre have been released across the State since 1991,” McLellan said.
“Trout cod are endemic to the southern Murray-Darling river system, including the Murrumbidgee and Murray Rivers, and the Macquarie River in central NSW. The species was once widespread and abundant in these areas, but has undergone dramatic declines in its distribution and abundance during the past century.
“The last known reproducing population of trout cod is confined to the Murray River below
Yarrawonga downstream to Tocumwal.”
McLellan said the reestablishment of trout cod at a small number of locations represents positive signs for future recovery of the species.
It is illegal to harm trout cod, and fishos are urged to be be able to distinguish trout cod from the similar looking Murray cod.
More information can be found at www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries
