Eastern Freshwater Cod

The Eastern Freshwater Cod (Maccullochella ikei) is a freshwater fish belonging to the family Percichthyidae; it is not a true cod.

The Eastern Freshwater Cod is native to the Clarence and Richmond Rivers and their tributaries in north-eastern Australia. It is similar in appearance to Murray Cod M. peelii. They are generally a yellow green to golden colour, with a speckled pattern of black to very dark green spots. Eastern cod have been recorded to 41kg.

Eastern freshwater cod are often found in clear, flowing streams with rocky beds and deep holes. They are sexually mature at 4 or 5 years old. They are territorial and aggressive. The Eastern cod is known to prey upon other fishes, frogs, crustaceans and snakes. A long-lived, slow-growing species,its population is seriously threatened by overfishing and unfavorable environmental factors. Native populations are now considered extinct in Richmond River. An aggressive restocking programme is now undertaken by the government of New South Wales.

The species is now totally protected.