At a glance
- IUCN category
- VU · Vulnerable
- Animal group
- Fish
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- FaunaHub record reviewed
- Checked against IUCN
- Sources disagree — IUCN's 2019 global assessment says Least ConcernChecked 2026-10-09 against IUCN's Red List export published 2026-07-28 · assessment
Conservation overview
The Murray cod is one of Australia's largest freshwater fish and an iconic river predator. It is assessed as Vulnerable.
Despite the name it is not a true cod but a large native perch-like fish.
Range & habitat
The Murray-Darling river system of south-eastern Australia.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Past overfishing
- Dams, weirs, and altered river flow
- Habitat degradation
Why it matters
A giant native predator of Australia's largest river system, the Murray cod is a flagship for restoring the health and flow of the Murray-Darling.
Sources
Sources for Murray Cod
- IUCN Red List — look up Murray Cod (authoritative status)
- FishBase
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Murray cod a true cod?
No. Despite its name it is not related to the marine cods; it is a large Australian freshwater fish in a different family, named 'cod' by early settlers.
Why is the Murray cod Vulnerable?
Published assessments cite past overfishing, dams, weirs and altered river flow, and habitat degradation across the Murray-Darling system. See the IUCN Red List.