News Release April 4th, 2009
Search for rare black cod in Port Stephens - Great Lakes Marine Park
The search for the rare black cod will start in Port Stephens next week with Port Stephens - Great Lakes Marine Park researcher Dave Harasti at the helm.
Mr Harasti says the search is part of an ongoing recovery project for the fish, which can grow up to two metres and weight 100kg and is easily identified by a black spot at the bottom of its tail.
“Marine park divers and community divers will start to search for the black cod next week. It’s basically a census count and will be undertaken over an eight week period.
“The species is listed as vulnerable because of over-fishing in the 1950s and 1960s. They are a slow growing fish and live a long time, to sixty or seventy years of age.
“The draft recovery plan for black cod, recently released by the NSW Department of Primary Industries, has called for more information on the species distribution and abundance, which is required to assist in the management of the species.
“We need to know more about the current population in the marine park. I’m not sure how many we’ll see but I would be very happy if we can find half a dozen fish.
“We’ll look for the fish in at least 30 sites around the marine park and we’ll position underwater cameras in depths below 30 metres. The cod like to live in protected caved areas, which can make it difficult to find them.
“We are also initiating a community sighting program so any divers or fishers that see a black cod in the marine park can report the sighting to the MPA.”
For more information contact the Port Stephens - Great Lakes Marine Park on 02 4916 3960.
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