News

Consultation begins on year-round cod fisheries

Apr 10, 2024

Harry Robert with a Murray cod at Lake Eppalock.

A trio of central Victorian waters would be opened to Murray cod fishing all-year-round under a proposal to be shaped by recreational fishers through public consultation.

Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content

Victorian Fisheries Authority chief executive officer Travis Dowling said fishers can have their say on a proposal to remove the three-month closed season for Murray cod at Lake Nillahcootie, Lake Eppalock and Cairn Curran Reservoir.

“These three lakes share in hundreds of thousands of cod annually by the VFA and research has shown breeding among stocked populations in waters like this is low, so a closed season is of little benefit,” Mr Dowling said.

“Removing the closed season in 2016 transformed Lake Eildon into a Murray cod mecca 12 months of the year.

“In 2021, a similar decision was supported for several western Victorian waters and we believe this would provide great fishing opportunities and a tourism boost in the heart of the state.

“Opening up year-round fishing could also take pressure off rivers like the Loddon, Campaspe and Broken to help support breeding populations.”

The closed season applies in the majority of rivers and lakes north of the Great Dividing Range between September 1 and November 30, to give Murray cod a chance to breed in peace. It does not apply in Lake Eildon.

Recreational fishing peak body VRFish has thrown its support behind the proposal and a recent survey of its members highlighted the three waters as suitable options for the removal of the closed season.

To have your say on the plans, visit https://www.vfa.vic.gov.au/bettercod or email your feedback to taylor.hunt@vfa.vic.gov.au by April 16.