New Murray cod limits proposed

Freshwater anglers have 60 days to provide Victorian fisheries managers with feedback about proposed changes to Murray cod size limits that are designed to significantly improve stocks.

Fisheries Victoria Executive Director Ross McGowan said more than two decades of fisheries science and some of Victoria's best Murray cod anglers had recently reviewed catch limits.

Mr McGowan said comprehensive modelling had informed the review and suggested Murray cod populations, and stocks available to anglers for harvest, would be much better off under a new 'slot limit' of 50cm to 70cm and a reduced daily bag limit of one fish in rivers.

"Narrow slot limits are increasingly used around the world to improve the sustainability of long-lived fish and the quality of fishing for anglers," Mr McGowan said.

"The current 60cm to 100cm slot limit has improved Murray cod populations over recent years, but scientifically-based fine tuning could do even more.

"A slot limit of 50cm to 70cm would prohibit the harvest of Murray cod larger than 70cm while allowing the limited take of smaller fish between 50cm and 70 cm.

"The research suggests that over 15 years, this would significantly improve the sustainability of the fishery, the number of harvestable Murray cod and the number of trophy fish longer than one metre.

“Murray cod take around 10 years to grow from 60cm to 100cm. Under current regulations they remain vulnerable to harvest for this period.

"However, Murray cod grow faster when young, taking around three years to grow from 50cm to 70cm, so are vulnerable to recreational harvest for less time.

"Larger Murray cod are older and more experienced breeders, produce more eggs and contribute more to future generations, so it makes sense to protect their reproductive capacity long-term.

"The proposed 50cm minimum length would permit anglers to harvest Murray cod at a size better suited to the table (around 2.3kg) and without the unpalatable fat that larger cod are known for.

"The reduced daily bag limit for rivers is designed to further protect large breeding fish and encourage natural breeding.

"The bag limit in lakes would remain unchanged at two, given many lake fisheries are stocked annually with Murray cod fingerlings and are thus much less reliant on natural breeding."

A public meeting on the proposal is scheduled for Wednesday, August 6 at the Bendigo Legion Angling Club at 7.00pm. Anglers are encouraged to provide feedback on the proposals.

Submissions close on Friday, August 29. Learn more at www.depi.vic.gov.au/murraycodslotsv