Cod Lodges Provide Luxury Homes For Iconic Fish In SA 

In a first-of-its-kind initiative for South Australia, Australia’s fishing conversation charity OzFish Unlimited partnered with SA Water to introduce native fish homes into the Warren Reservoir.  

Delivered in February 2021, these homes will provide shelter and potential breeding grounds for the iconic Murray cod. 

The aptly named ‘Cod Lodges’ consisting of terracotta pots and limestone reef blocks were installed in the SA Water-managed Warren Reservoir near Williamstown to provide refuge for Murray cod. With the help of local businesses, Bennetts Pottery Magill and Chamo’s Lure’s, the limestone blocks were supplied and cleaned by local OzFish Barossa Chapter members and volunteers. 

OzFish’s Senior Program Manager for South Australia, Dr Michael Sierp is excited about how this collaborative project can enhance and support the native fishery. 

“It’s a very exciting project as we’ve not done anything like this before in South Australia Reservoirs,” said Dr Sierp. 

“Murray cod are highly territorial and aggressive fish. They are going to love these pots and blocks. They’ll use them to rest in during the day and anything that’s interesting that swims past they will ambush as their natural feeding behavior. 

Habitat destruction over decades and other factors has caused cod numbers in the wild to decline drastically.  

“Murray cod are valuable because they’re an indicator of a healthy ecosystem, but they are also a prized fish to catch among recreational fishers, providing more habitat like this will help them thrive in the area,” Dr Sierp said. 

This work represents the initiation of some promising inland fish habitat rehabilitation projects in the State’s reservoirs. Native fish habitat has been removed from our waterways over centuries, but through restoration, we hope to reverse this trend. 

OzFish Barossa Chapter President Tegan Lorensini agreed. 

“We are so lucky to have one of the biggest freshwater fish in the world at our doorstep. It’s our job to protect our Murray cod fishery and ensure future generations can experience catching and caring for these awesome fish,” Tegan said. 

This project was a collaborative effort by Australia’s fishing conservation charity OzFish Unlimited and its major partner BCF – Boating, Camping Fishing, the South Australian Government, SA Water and South Australia’s EPA is Environment Protection Authority.  

Community recreational fishers wishing to join the OzFish movement to protect and restore local fishing grounds can establish volunteer groups for fish habitat restoration initiatives like this. If you are interested visit contact 1800 431 308.