Review of the Eastern Freshwater Cod Recovery Plan

Summary

The Eastern Freshwater Cod is a large freshwater fish that is native to the Clarence and Richmond Rivers in north-eastern New South Wales. The species is listed as ‘endangered’ under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and the NSW Fisheries Management Act 1994.

A recovery plan was prepared for Eastern Freshwater Cod in 2004. The overall objective of the plan is to ensure the recovery and natural viability of Eastern Freshwater Cod populations in their former range in the Clarence and Richmond Rivers. The plan was developed in accordance with the requirements of the NSW Fisheries Management Act 1994 and the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, and requires a major review within ten years of its publication.

This document comprises the review and complies with the requirements of the Fisheries Management Act 1994. The review of the recovery actions was undertaken in consultation with a range of managers and scientists and drew on several different sources of information (e.g. Fisheries Scientific Committee's Annual Reviews of the threatened species lists, scientific papers, consultants reports, internal DPI reports and personal communication with a range of professionals with involvement in Eastern Freshwater Cod research, management and compliance operations).

The implementation details for each recovery action program area (e.g. Research and Investigation activities, Compliance and Regulatory Activities and Management Activities) are outlined in the report.