The Brisbane River was once home to the Brisbane River cod, known as the Bumgur by the Jinibara people. Historical records suggest that several massive fish kills, caused by a combination of factors such as vegetation removal, siltation, overfishing, collapsed riverbanks from livestock, and poisoning from early mining activities, led to the extinction of this cod in the Brisbane River system during the 1920s to 1940s , . These cod are the top predator in the freshwater food chain, and their reintroduction to their former habitats will help restore balance to our waterways by controlling exotic pest fish such as tilapia and carp. Since the mid-1980s, efforts to restore the ecosystem have included the restocking of Mary River cod to replace the now extinct Brisbane River cod in the Brisbane, Stanley, and Bremer River systems. This activity undertaken by various organisations has resulted in tens of thousands of fish being restocked.

Brisbane River Cod Recovery Strategy – Restocking native fish for a better fishing future

In 2020, the community-based Somerset & Wivenhoe Fish Stocking Association initiated the Brisbane River Cod Recovery Strategy in conjunction with the state governments and local councils. This initiative not only aims to restock native fish but to also restore and improve riparian vegetation for fish habitats and provide and enhance in-stream fish habitat (Figure 6). With assistance provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements an electrofishing survey was conducted on the greater Brisbane River catchment throughout October 2023. Results were encouraging with large specimens up to 30 kg caught in the mid and upper Stanley River, indicating either remnant Bumgur or the success of Mary River cod restocking (Figure 7). Some cod have also reached adult sizes in the Brisbane River. The recovery effort has gained widespread support, with contributions from state government, councils, NGO, landowners, businesses, anglers, conservationists, local fishing clubs and interested members of the public. Further support/investment is needed to continue the recovery project and for follow-up monitoring.