03-05-2008, 05:10 PM
The Murray cod is on the verge of a remarkable comeback - just five years after it was declared a vulnerable species.
<br />
Over-fishing, the destruction of habitat and competition from introduced species - such as the European carp - pulled down the numbers of the iconic native fish to about 10% of original levels.<br />
<br />
Yesterday, 800 anglers took to Australia's longest and most famous river near the rural town of Mathoura in search of our largest freshwater fish species. What they found confirmed what people have been saying: the cod are back.<br />
<br />
"There's definitely more cod now than a few years ago. In fact, you're probably more likely to pull out a Murray cod than anything else these days," said Ben Starkey, who is on the committee of the Mathoura True Blue Fishing Classic, held 250 kilometres north of Melbourne.<br />
<br />
While 30-year-old angler Owen Osborne took an early lead in the competition, local fisherman Dennis O'Riley explained how much progress had been made to ensure the Murray cod's survival.<br />
<br />
For the rest of the story, <a href="http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/iconic-catch-for-conservation-151-the-comeback-cod/2008/03/01/1204227055191.html" target="_blank">click here</a>.
<br />
Over-fishing, the destruction of habitat and competition from introduced species - such as the European carp - pulled down the numbers of the iconic native fish to about 10% of original levels.<br />
<br />
Yesterday, 800 anglers took to Australia's longest and most famous river near the rural town of Mathoura in search of our largest freshwater fish species. What they found confirmed what people have been saying: the cod are back.<br />
<br />
"There's definitely more cod now than a few years ago. In fact, you're probably more likely to pull out a Murray cod than anything else these days," said Ben Starkey, who is on the committee of the Mathoura True Blue Fishing Classic, held 250 kilometres north of Melbourne.<br />
<br />
While 30-year-old angler Owen Osborne took an early lead in the competition, local fisherman Dennis O'Riley explained how much progress had been made to ensure the Murray cod's survival.<br />
<br />
For the rest of the story, <a href="http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/iconic-catch-for-conservation-151-the-comeback-cod/2008/03/01/1204227055191.html" target="_blank">click here</a>.