How we operate

What makes a modern Murray cod farm?

The defining features of a modern food producer are drawn from both within the industry and also out of our collective social responsibility. A modern Murray cod farm is environmentally-conscious, resource-efficient, highly-automated, scalable, profitable and, most importantly, is able to guarantee a consistent and premium-quality fish, all throughout the year.

When it comes to the individual details, every farm has their own way of doing things that depend on the resources they have at hand, the knowledge and experience that they have accumulated, and most importantly of all, their philosophy and vision for the future of their product, farm and industry.

Below, we present and explain our way of doing things. This is our interpretation of a modern Murray cod farm.

The most critical necessity of any food producer is having good quality production inputs. In a freshwater fish farm, the two key inputs are water and juvenile fish.

That’s why we are situated along the Murrumbidgee and Murray river catchments, within the Murray cod’s natural habitat. As far as river water goes, our source is both natural and ideal. We also have access to pristine bore water, free from algae, bacteria and other organic matter, which we feed into our recirculating aquaculture systems in our nursery and grow-out systems.

We also have decades of dedicated breeding to produce multigenerational lineages of Murray cod broodstock. This broodstock has consistently developed healthy, strong, fast-growing, disease-resistant fish that are highly-suitable for aquaculture while still maintaining the distinct depth of flavour found in wild Murray cod.

Our hatchery and nursery adopts a natural spawning process

The spawning and nursing process of newborn Murray cod is conducted differently at Uarah Fisheries to many other Murray cod hatcheries and farms. Not only do we adopt a natural spawning process, we also allow natural feeding for our Murray cod larvae to develop their immunal health, thus eliminating many potential problems later in the production cycle.

Production cycle

The natural spawning season for Murray cod begins around late September every year. After spawning in ponds, we collect the Murray cod eggs to be rested in the hatchery for several days, after which they will hatch into larvae. A portion of the larvae are then purchased by overseas and interstate producers. The remaining larvae are again deposited into specialised ponds, where they remain for approximately two months.
These ponds are carefully prepared and nurtured to ensure sufficient growth of zooplankton and other microbial life that will act as the food source for the Murray cod larvae. Since the larvae are carefully exposed to a controlled outdoor environment, they are able to develop a level of immunal strength that is otherwise obtainable under an indoor environment.
Beginning around late November, once the Murray cod larvae have fattened up sufficiently and become fingerling-sized, they are again collected to be nursed and weaned in a designated recirculating aquaculture system in the nursery.

While this process might appear labor-intensive and redundant to casual observers or other Murray cod farmers, we have observed that, along with our carefully chosen genetic broodstock, this approach of natural spawning and feeding yields notably robust, healthier, and naturally disease-resistant fingerlings. As such, this method is crucial for ensuring a consistent supply of superior fingerlings for both native restocking initiatives and our own grow-out production systems.

Our recirculating aquaculture grow-out system focuses on efficiency without compromising quality

At Uarah Fisheries, we prioritise the application of recirculating aquaculture for cultivating juvenile Murray cod up to market size. This approach revolves around recycling and reusing water within the aquaculture system, utilising processes to filter, treat, and oxygenate the water to maintain its quality. The recirculating aquaculture system aligns seamlessly with our vision of a modern Murray cod farm: efficient, eco-friendly, scalable, and highly automated to ensure premium quality. Despite its elevated costs, many industry experts regard recirculating aquaculture as the system shaping the present and future of aquaculture.

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We sell our Murray cod at three separate life stages – as larvae, as fingerlings and as table fish.

Our Murray cod larvae are highly-sought after by other Murray cod producers, both local and overseas. Murray cod larvae naturally hatch with their yolk sacs still attached, and are thus able to sustain themselves for up to seven days without an external food source. In addition, owing to their compact size, they require less oxygen and generate minimal waste compared to young Murray cod. Consequently, Murray cod larvae prove ideal for extended transport, even across significant distances and durations, including international journeys.

Our Murray cod table fish are primarily available in two market sizes: a smaller live fish weighing 0.6 to 1.0 kilograms and a larger chilled fish of 1.0 to 1.5 kilograms. Both distributed to premium wholesalers in Sydney and Melbourne, who then supply the fish to selected retailers and restaurants. Expanding our reach, we're now targeting Canberra and, bolstered by ongoing grow-out production enhancements, our goal is to offer premium Murray cod to all Australian states. Likewise, we are also able to export directly to international markets.

Our markets

Murray cod fingerlings are a good alternative to Murray cod larvae for producers who want a more mature seed stock to accelerate their grow-out production. Our Murray cod fingerlings are bred to be exceptionally hardy and strong, and can be suitable for local and overseas producers who are beginning to trial production of Murray cod or who do not have the experience or controlled parameters to nurture newborn Murray cod larvae. Overall, Murray cod fingerlings account for up to a third of our annual export volume.
In recent years, we have also worked directly with a number of overseas producers, including in joint ventures where, in addition to providing genetically-selected, healthy Murray cod larvae, we have contributed the expertise, management and technical oversight of the nursery and grow-out operations, including of the design and maintenance of the recirculating aquaculture systems or open pond cage systems used to raise the juvenile fish to market size. We have a team of experienced multilingual technicians and aquaculturists who supervise and work in our joint venture projects.
Our Murray cod fingerlings are also highly-sought after by government and local community restocking programs in Victoria and New South Wales. Under these programs, the fingerlings are purchased and released into local waterways of the Murray-Darling basin to replenish native populations. At this size, juvenile Murray cod will have already developed the necessary hardiness to thrive in the wild.

At every stage of our production cycle, our focus remains on producing the finest fish quality.

Our commitment extends from breeding, nursery methods, and natural spawning to water quality management and fish health controls. Incorporating practices like natural spawning and feeding, and utilizing recirculating aquaculture systems, we ensure quality and sustainability despite increased costs. Our distinct advantage lies in complete control over the production process, from breeding to sales, setting us apart in the industry. With practices refined since our 1977 hatchery inception, our stringent approach is grounded in experience. Our vision extends globally through joint ventures and partnerships, embodying our philosophy for Australian and global markets. This encapsulates our vision for modern Murray cod farming.

To learn more about us, visit the newsroom or check out our projects.