Skip to content
Environment, General News

Nymboida Bushfire Recovery gets helping hand as Eastern Freshwater Cod fights back from brink of extinction

OzFish Unlimited 3 mins read

Three years after bushfires, then floods, devastated the Nymboida River, its revival is continuing to gather pace in and out of the water.   

And the rejuvenation of the area is not just on land with the endangered eastern freshwater cod also benefiting from the countless hours of hard work that has been put in to help regenerate the catchment.   

The latest boost to habitat on the Nymboida comes from a combination of community grants awarded to the Clarence River Chapter of OzFish Unlimited, Australia's fishing conservation charity, following assistance from Landcare Bushfire Recovery Grants.     

Funds secured from the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal’s Yulgilbar Foundation will result in 5km of exotic weeds being removed from the riparian zone and 1000 local native plants established in their place.     

A further three hectares of weed management and another 1000 trees are being funded by the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife through its bushfire recovery restoration grants.  

OzFish and Landcare NSW volunteer groups in the region have used a long-term agreement to restore fish habitat across New South Wales.  

Trees will be planted on community education days and is backed by support from the NSW Recreational Fishing Trusts that will see local Landcare groups collaborate with recreational fishers to drive the restoration of fish habitat on the Nymboida River and secure the future of the endangered eastern freshwater cod and other inhabitants, including platypuses. 

“The vegetation in the riparian zone, especially after the fires was pretty fragile,” said Alacia Cockbain, OzFish Project Officer - NSW Coast.   

The Nymboida is one of the last remaining breeding grounds of a wild population of eastern freshwater cod. As recently as the 1980s there were less than 1000 left in the wild.  

A breeding and restocking program for the freshwater cod has resulted in fingerlings being released while an artificial spawning habitat has been trialled in the river over the past year to further replenish numbers.   

One of the important elements to protecting the eastern freshwater cod is the ban on all fishing in the Nymboida River, Mann River and all its tributaries upstream of its junction with the Clarence River from the beginning of August until the end of October.   

This three-month fishing closure is during their breeding season when the cod are quite aggressive protecting their eggs from predators.   

“They are totally protected. If people catch them by accident outside of the breeding season, they should keep them in the water and safely release them straight away,” Ryan Lungu, OzFish’s NSW Coast Program Manager, said.   

All fishing gear in or adjacent to these seasonally closed waters is prohibited with heavy fines in place for anyone who transgresses.  

This project was made possible by the OzFish-Landcare NSW partnership, and funded by the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal’s Yulgilbar Foundation, the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife, the NSW Recreational Fishing Trusts and BCF – Boating, Camping, Fishing. 

 

A dropbox of images of OzFish’s restoration work at Nymboida River is available here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/qfzcje8ofdc38yx/AADhkWQtI_0t_iJSz-Io9GYLa?dl=0  

 

If you would like to know more about the project or get involved become a member of OzFish at www.ozfish.org.au or phone 1800 431 308.    


About us:

About OzFish

 

OzFish Unlimited is a national environmental conservation charity established to improve the health of our rivers, lakes and estuaries. It is a member-based organisation dedicated to make our fishing grounds healthy, vibrant and more productive. Their active work includes; habitat restoration such as resnagging, riverbank planting, clean-ups, fishways, shellfish reefs and educational and community capacity building programs.


Contact details:

If you would like further information about the project or to interview Alacia Cockbain, please contact OzFish Unlimited Communications Manager Paul Suttor

0421 491 229 | [email protected]

Media

More from this category

  • Environment
  • 14/05/2025
  • 12:25
REMONDIS AUSTRALIA

Organics processing to increase as REMONDIS Australia acquires major shareholding in GO Organics (Western Australia)

Boonanarring WA, 14 May 2025, REMONDIS Australia – REMONDIS Australia has made a significant break into Western Australia’s organics waste management market, having acquired…

  • Contains:
  • Art, General News
  • 14/05/2025
  • 11:22
Australian National Maritime Museum

Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition opens at the Maritime Museum featuring three Australian finalists

TIME AND DATE: May 15, 11:00am - 12:00pm LOCATION: Australian National Maritime Museum, 2 Murray Street Darling Harbour The world-renowned exhibition, now in its 60th year and on loan from the Natural History Museum in London, will open at the Australian National Maritime Museum on May 15, featuring exceptional images that capture fascinating animal behaviour, spectacular species and the breathtaking diversity of the natural world. Wildlife Photographer of the Year is the most prestigious photography event of its kind, providing a global platform that showcases some of the best photography talent from around the world for nearly 60 years. Launching…

  • Contains:
  • CharitiesAidWelfare, General News
  • 14/05/2025
  • 07:00
Child Protection Foundation

JACQUI LAMBIE JOINS CRUSADE AGAINST CHILD ABUSE

Firebrand senatorJacqui Lambie will join a married couple dedicated to fighting the scourge of child abuse at a gala fundraiser in Sydney next Friday night, May 23. Senator Lambie will join other politicians, entertainers, community representatives, parents, volunteers and sponsors for the annual Black Tie Masquerade Ball inaugurated by Sydneysiders Bruce and Kerry Fozzard, founders of the Child Protection Foundation (CPF), one of the hardest working charities in New South Wales. In previous years the charity’s mission has been endorsed at the Ball by official messages of support from three Prime Ministers – Mr Tony Abbott, Mr Malcolm Turnbull and…

Media Outreach made fast, easy, simple.

Feature your press release on Medianet's News Hub every time you distribute with Medianet. Pay per release or save with a subscription.