Return of the Murray Cod

From the Sydney Morning Herald : From paddock to plate, endangered Murray cod are back on the menu

The endangered and iconic Australian native fish is back on the menu, thanks to new fish farms ...

Back in the day: the fish was plentiful but heavy demand put it on the endangered list. Photo: State Library NSW

The largest of all native fish, cod have grown to more than 100 kilograms in the wild. But commercial fishing and changes in their native habitat in south-eastern Australia caused numbers to fall, prompting a commercial fishing ban and strict limits on recreational fishing. Until recently, farming cod has had mixed success, mostly because of widespread cannibalism when they were bred in farm dams. 

Marianvale, the largest of about 10 NSW producers that are now producing more than $450,000 worth of cod for fish markets and restaurants, has found that tightly packing the cod in the indoor tanks with moving water reduces aggression as it limits their territories. 

Cod may not play nice, but the fish is ''delicious'' and has a beautiful succulent texture, said Darren Robertson, a co-owner of the Three Blue Ducks in Bronte. His restaurant is one of a handful, including Rockpool, Sean Moran's new restaurant Tomah Gardens in the Blue Mountains Botanic Gardens and Quay, that has recently put farmed cod back on the menu after many years when it was unavailable.