The Nymboida River is a perennial stream of the Clarence River catchment and is located in the northern rivers of NSW. During the bushfires of November 2019 this area was heavily impacted destroying the habitat of the rufous bettong (Aepyprymnus rufescens) and the threatened species Eastern freshwater cod (Maccullochella Ikei).
The utter destruction of this habitat due to the fires has created new issues such as woody weeds, erosion in gullies, and the decimation of old-growth trees and riparian zone.
OzFish and Landcare Australia have joined together with landowners and recreational fishers to start the journey of restoring this vital Eastern cod habitat back to its once healthy and vibrant ecosystem.
“While there are some encouraging signs that things are starting to bounce back, it will require time, and energy by us to ensure this beautiful fish and the local wildlife is protected.
“The bulk of their diet are crustaceans and other fish and insects, which is why restoring the riparian zone is so vital for their survival,” Local landholder David Faircloth
Eastern Freshwater Cod, also known as the Eastern Cod or Clarence River Cod, is a threatened species and is only found in the Clarence and Richmond river catchments of the NSW North Coast.
Once prolific throughout the system, the species is now only known to live in isolated parts of the waterway due to habitat degradation, impacts from severe fires, overfishing and introduced species. This area is one of the last remaining breeding grounds for wild Eastern cod and is also resident to Australian bass which return to this system after spawning.
The waterway after the black summer bushfires.
The site 12 months later.
Three years after bushfires, then floods, devastated Nymboida River, its revival is continuing to gather pace both 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 region.
Motivated landowners have joined together with fishing conservation charity OzFish Unlimited and Landcare Australia to restore habitat of the endangered Freshwater Eastern Cod (Maccullochella ikei). Two kilometers of the Nymboida river (a perennial stream of the Clarence river catchment) will be recovered where one of the last remaining breeding grounds of a wild population is known to be surviving. This important work has been made possible by the Australian Government’s Wildlife and Habitat Bushfire Recovery program and OzFish’s major partner BCF – Boating, Camping, Fishing.
