Somerset Wivenhoe Fish Stocking Assn
Making a Better Fishery Future
Brisbane River Cod Recovery Strategy
SWFSA stock Mary River Cod into several rivers & creeks in South East Queensland as part of the Brisbane River Cod Recovery Project.
Each year cod fingerlings are released into selected locations as part of a strategy to re-establish a self-sustaining population throughout the catchment.
SWFSA acknowledge CleanCo Qld, Ipswich City Council, Scenic Rim Regional Council, Somerset Regional Council for their on-going support.
Assistance is also being provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
Together we can re-establish Cod to the Brisbane River Catchment.
Objective
General Principles
- A population of cod will not be re-established without the engagement with DAF, other stakeholders, land owners and the community.
- Community involvement & citizen science should be supported by appropriate levels of government.
- Existing community groups / networks should be used in preference to establishing new ones.
- The strategy should be kept simple, in lay person’s terms so that the community can understand.
This strategy should follow the principles of the existing Mary River Cod Research & Recovery Plan, focusing efforts on the Brisbane River & tributaries.
About Brisbane River Cod
Introduction
The Brisbane River cod was likely a unique form of Maccullochella cod that occurred naturally in the Brisbane River system, an east coast river system in south east Queensland. The Brisbane River Cod was known as the Bumgur (meaning blue cod) by the Jinibara people centred in the Kilcoy region and the junction of the Stanley and Brisbane Rivers. Their exact taxonomic status will never be known as there are no known specimens, even within the Qld Museum. Based on several genetic studies it is suspected that Brisbane River Cod were a species intermediate between eastern freshwater cod (Maccullochella ikei) of the Clarence and Richmond River systems in northern New South Wales and Mary River cod (Maccullochella mariensis) of the Mary River in central Queensland. (Wikipedia)
Recovery Strategy
With the possible exception of the upper Stanley River, there are clearly not enough cod present for recovery to occur in the foreseeable future without a committed restocking strategy. Stocking has created self-recruiting populations of both Mary River Cod in the Mary River, East Coast Cod in the Clarence River catchment and Murray Cod throughout the Murray / Darling system. A concerted effort is required for the cod in the Brisbane River catchment for recovery to occur.
Restocking
The release of Mary River Cod at selected sites; approved by & under permit from Fisheries Queensland.
Each site is to have a maximum number of fingerlings for release each year of no more than 600 fish per hectare of surface water annually.
As each site will have a different carrying capacity or may prove to more or less suitable over time, the optimal stocking number may change over time for specific sites but is not to exceed 600 fingerlings / hectare / annum.
Land Owners
This strategy would not be possible without the engagement from many land owners throughout the catchments.
We thank you all for your on-going support to bring back this magnificent fish species.
Electrofishing Survey
In late 2023/ early 2024 with assistance is being provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements S&WFSA engaged an independent biologist to undertake an electro-fishing study on how the Cod were going at this stage of the project.
Some encouraging results were found.
Read the full report at the link below.
Cans For Cod
If You are doing the right thing by recycling your cans & bottles – why not go one better by nominating your cash to buying cod. Just quote our number C10393454
Every $5 buys 4 Cod to help restore the Cod in the Brisbane, Stanley & Bremer River catchments.
Acknowledgements
This recovery project ackowledges the support from City of Ipswich, the Somerset Regional Council, CleanCo Queensland & the Queensland Government.
How You Can Help
There are several ways you can help us.
Become A Member
Attend meetings & fish releases
Fingerling Releases
Come along to fingerling releases.
Donate
Make a donation to SWFSA to help us put more fish back in the water.
Monitoring
Enter fishing data into our monitoring app HERE>>>
Fishing Permit
Make sure your Stocked Impoundment Permit (SIPS) is up to date. Everyone 18 years of age & older is required to have one when fishing on Lakes Somerset & Wivenhoe. Get a Fishing Permit HERE>>>
Destroy Pest Fish
If you catch any Tilapia, Carp or Pearl Cichlids in any waterway please humanely kill them and place in bins around the lakes or bury them above the high water mark. Do not return them to the water, even if they’re dead.
Benefits of Fish Restocking
SWFSA stock several native fish species under a permit from Queensland Fisheries. The benefits of native fish restocking include:
Improved recreational fishing opportunities
Pest / noxious fish control
Species Recovery - Mary River Cod
Improved water quality
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I buy fingerlings from SWFSA?
Where & When do SWFSA meet?
SWFSA generally meet on the third Wednesday of each month at Fernvale. Check our social media for updates.