NSW DPI Fisheries and Police Rural Crime Squad are investigating two men who call themselves the “Cod Squad” after they allegedly caught and killed an illegal haul of Murray cod in the Macquarie River near Dubbo.
The illegal catch first came to light last week after Dubbo-based Matthew Hansen shared the “Cod Squad’s” post on Facebook. The original post, which has now been deleted, showed the men proudly displaying the dead cod.
Hansen said it has galvanised the community and obviously the community cares and they have spoken, and as a whole does not accept it.
“Ten years ago out here that sort of thing was accepted. It shows there’s been a massive cultural shift in this community,” said Hansen.
“Part of that has been because of events like the Lake Burrendong Classic and catch & release. It’s really starting to look up in Central West NSW,” he said.
The post sparked outrage in the fishing community and has now been shared over 332 times. The viral post also caught the attention of NSW DPI Fisheries and a local media organisation, Win News, who broadcast the story.
The legal requirements for Murray cod in NSW are two fish per day and four in possession. The size limits are 55-75cms.
