2025, Volume 28, Paper 8
ISSN: 2209-6612
Analysing the Development of the New South Wales Farmed Murray Cod Value Chain
Lachlan Jaensch – Former postgraduate student, School of Economics and Public Policy, University of Adelaide.
Craig Johns – Associate Professor, School of Economics and Public Policy, University of Adelaide.
Abstract
The New South Wales (NSW) farmed Murray Cod (Maccullochella peelii) industry is a unique case study in the analysis of developing value chains in Australian aquaculture. The Murray Cod industry operates under a dual-purpose model by supplying fish for both premium consumer markets and to governments for native fish restocking programs, which contribute to enhancing broader conservation and regional tourism objectives. This model creates a commercial competitive advantage to help reinforce the industry’s strong sustainability credentials and its premium product positioning within the marketplace. With rising domestic and international demand for sustainably farmed premium white-flesh fish meat, Murray Cod production has rapidly expanded in the last five years, particularly in the Riverina region of New South Wales, which now accounts for over 90 per cent of Australia’s supply. Concurrent with rapid production growth, the average price per kilogram for Murray Cod at the farmgate has remained relatively stagnant in nominal terms over the past two decades. Currently, producers capture approximately $23.50/kg liveweight of value at the farmgate. From here, significant value addition occurs along the chain resulting in a final price often exceeding $150/kg in retail and foodservice outlets. The distribution of value addition along the chain among processors, wholesalers, and retailers remains unclear. Targeting the price received for Murray Cod may be a great opportunity to encourage further growth of production value in the industry and help position the product as exclusive and premium within the marketplace. In this paper, value chain analysis is employed to identify key value drivers, constraints, and strategic opportunities for enhancing value chain coordination. Aligning production strategies with market demands and fostering greater coordination within the value chain can help the New South Wales farmed Murray Cod industry to grow sustainably and secure long-term competitiveness in local markets.
Keywords: Murray Cod, value chain analysis, aquaculture, agribusiness
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