Mary River Cod

Bodgy

I'm not seriously contemplating Mary River cod at this stage, just pondering...
Two hatcheries seem to be breeding them or have permits to and in my area it is alright to stock them in dams or to have them in aquariums (it seems?).
Has anyone looked into it before or do I need to shoot off a few emails?

From - http://www.daff.qld.gov.au/fisheries/re ... ivate-dams

"Mary River cod
Mary River cod may be stocked in dams in the Mary, North Pine, Brisbane, Bremer, Lockyer, Stanley, Logan, Albert and South Coast (including the Nerang and Coomera rivers, and Currumbin and Tullebudgera creeks) river basins."

blind freddie

Got to love them Mary River Cod Bodgy check out the colours in this little fella

kyister

wow beautiful fish i would love to put cod in my system ,i think they would be like barramundi im no expert, but they would be a fantastic fish to try

ccBear

Mary River cod is a catch and release fish protected under state law I believe. I would check with fisheries first and please post back as it may be a good third for fourth species to try.

Ok half and half here is a few facts
http://www.daff.qld.gov.au/fisheries/sp ... -river-cod

Your safe BF but would be worth finding out for aquaponics.

Bodgey who are the two mobs doing breeding of fingerlings

kyister

Mary river cod are a protected species they must be returned to the water immediately what a bummer they are a beautiful looking fish ,i think i would have found it hard to eat them , just on their beauty alone .

Colum Black-Byron

They are related to the Murray cod (Maccullochella family), if they are native to the area you live, then they should happily live year round without too many issues.

Just hope they aren't as shy as my Murray cod, the only time I see my 50 of them is when I sneak up to the tank with a torch at night.

Let us know how they go.

Bodgy

From stocked impoundments there is a one fish bag limit and I've seen individual fish for sale on aquarium sites so it isn't illegal to possess one strictly speaking.
One of the hatcheries I've found that is attempting to breed them says they are for private waterways or aquarium use. So it seems they can legally be bought. (What is AP if not a small private waterway anyway? :dontknow:

)
Unfortunately it seems nobody has managed to successfully spawn them since 2008, at least from what I can see. :cry:

Emails should confirm either way I guess. In the years past it appears there hasn't been a surplus of fingerlings from the stocking programs for dams and rivers. One day maybe...

I like the idea of a little version of murray cod that is happy with local conditions.
And they are a seriously cool fish...

Ccbear, one of the mobs trying to breed them has a disconnected number atm. Not sure if they still exist or not.
They are/were called Sunland Freshwater fish Hatchery and are at Boreen Point.
The second one is the Lake MacDonald Fish Hatchery. But it doesn't look like the program is going too well at the moment.

From - http://www.daff.qld.gov.au/fisheries/sp ... -river-cod

" common length - 50 cm
maximum length - 120 cm

Size and bag limits
- minimum size - 50 cm from listed stocked impoundments.
- bag limit - 1 from listed stocked impoundments below.
- NO TAKE SPECIES IN ALL OTHER WATERS. If accidentally caught, these species should immediately and carefully be returned to the water.

Stocked impoundments where Mary River cod can be taken
- Upstream of the walls of Cressbrook, Hinze, Maroon, Moogerah, North Pine, Somerset and Wivenhoe Dams and lakes Dyer (Bill Gunn dam) and Clarendon. "

Bodgy

Thanks for the pic Blind Freddy, that's a nice fat cod.

Bodgy

I found this one online a while ago, happy bloke this fella.

Bodgy

Looking into it more I've been reminded what happened to Sunland...
I'm not sure what the end result was but the hatchery and Lake Cootharaba produced mutated/deformed fry. The Hatchery believed that chemicals from the neighbours macadamia farm were responsible for the defects and their health issues.
This obviously had a severe impact on their business and the most recent article I can find is a warning that because of the contamination issues and also poor health that the hatchery may soon close. (7th Oct 2011).

From - http://www.noosanews.com.au/news/hatchl ... ry/483854/

"Dr Matt Landos said more widespread testing by the Environment Protection Agency in the Noosa catchment had revealed one sample of endosulfan sulphate, which he believes is linked to local fish stock mutations.

Just as concerning for Dr Landos was the detection at seven passive testing sites of the carbendazim, which he said had also been implicated with the reproductive mutations.

Endosulfans and carbendazim used in agri-chemicals have been cited by Dr Landos as major suspects in the spawning of two-headed fish embryos as well as embryos without eyes and three tails."

Doesn't sound good for Sunland.

Other related articles - http://www.noosanews.com.au/topic/sunla ... -hatchery/

2 headed bass, 3 headed mullet... feel sorry for the owner. It was either the local water or the neighbour. There isn't much she could have done about either.
I'd forgotten all about this, was big news at the time.

ccBear

That one should have been released, breeding age by the looks

Bodgy

He claims to have released it. It was caught in the Mary River itself which is a no-take area for sure.
Personally I wouldn't have taken it out of the water at all. Despite persistent local rumours, the upper reaches are croc free.

I'm sus on him too but can only take him on his word.

Bodgy

I have some new info on Sunland FW Fish Hatchery.
They have relocated and are now rebuilding the business. (Away from contamination).
If any Coasties (um, Sunshine Coast, QLD) are interested in supporting them, they currently have silver perch available @$65/100 fingerlings.
Not sure exactly where they are located now, it's a bit late on a friday to call for more details. I'll contact them on monday.
Not sure if they are breeding any other species other than silvers either while they rebuild. Will fill you in when I know more.

earthbound

And I thought it was just a typo...... :wink:

Nice looking fish.

Bodgy

While you're here EB, do you mind if I start a thread with the contact details/prices for Sunland stock when I know a little more?
Not sure if that'd be bad form or not. Maybe they could join and keep us updated? Dunno what the etiquette would be about that.
I feel for the owner after the massive issues in the past and with prices like that I'm tempted to drop my spangled perch "trial" just to help her out. Even though I'd prefer jades or spangleds. (Or Mary River Cod of course! :cheers:

Not that they are likely at this stage).

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Mary River Cod

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Mary River Cod

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Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics