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Eels are distinct among fishes and can be easily identified by their slender, long body-shape and skin texture. Short-fin eels (Anguilla australis) have a golden-olive to olive-green skin colouring on their backs with a grey to silver-white belly. The name short-fin eel is given due to the length of the fin along their back.
The eel fishery in Victoria is based primarily on the short-finned eel, which makes up 75 per cent of the catch. Short-finned eels can be found in all Victorian coastal drainages. The long-finned eel (Anguilla reinhardtii) makes up the remainder of the catch and is found east of Wilson Promontory along the east coast of Australian to Cape York Peninsula.
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It is believed that both species breed in the Coral Sea. Sexually mature individuals undertake a spawning migration from freshwater to the sea. It is thought that the eels only spawn once in their life. The young larvae are carried on oceanic currents back to the continental shelf of Australia, New Zealand and Norfolk Island. At about 12-18 months they metamorphose into clear eels called glass eels. The glass eels using tides are carried into estuaries of coastal rivers. At about 1-3 years of age they develop brown skin pigments becoming elvers. The elvers make their way into the freshwater and upper reaches of rivers, streams and creeks. The eels will grow and mature before returning to the sea between 10 and 25 years of age.
Short-fin eels prefer to live in still water habitats such as coastal swamps, lagoons, farm dams and river back eddies. They will also migrate overland to reach remote waterways. Long-fin eels prefer riverine habitats.
Short-fin eels can grow to 110cm in length and weight up to 6.8kg. Typically they are 60cm and weigh 0.7kg.
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It is believed that aboriginals caught eels using traps woven from bullrushes. The first recorded catches of eels in Victoria were in 1914. It is mostly likely that these eels were used for rock lobster bait.
The first eel specific fisherman started collecting eels in 1931 around Warrnambool and the western Victorian district. These early fyke nets were made from cotton and lasted only two days in the water before they had to be dried out and waterproofed using wattle bark tan.
The fishery expanded in the 1950s with the first consignments of smoked eels being exported to Holland.
The drought during 1966 and 1967 reduced eel stocks in Victorian waters. This prompted an inquiry into the culturing eels so that harvesting during drier periods could be continued. In 1971 the first eel culture permits were issued for the relocation of eels into specified culture lakes in western Victoria.
In 1990 the government did a review of the eel fishery. Following the review a number of changes occurred in the fishery. The most significant was the allocation of specific waters to the eel fishermen and the establishment of two types of fishing licenses, A and B class.
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Harvesting of eels is done using fyke nets. Fyke nets are a type of trap net. They are relatively small and lightweight compared to other types of fishing gear. Most lakes, dams and swamps on public land south of the Great Dividing Range are open to commercial eel fishing.
Installing grids prevents accidental catch of wildlife, as only eels are able to pass through the grid. Other methods of protecting wildlife include setting a portion of the net above water and incorporating special exits into these net sections. |
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In addition to harvesting of wild stocks, there is some culture of eels in a number of public and private waters. Most culturing is done using extensive culture methods. Extensive culture adds eels into waters where they are left to grow to a marketable size under natural conditions. Those that are 'stocked' into waters for culture are elvers, undersized eels or eels in poor condition.
Intensive eel culture using specially formulated high growth feeds in indoor tanks is now being developed.
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Since 1968 eel fishermen have needed a Master Fisherman's Licence to catch and sell eels. Those fishermen stocking eels for extensive culture have required a permit since 1971. A licence is able to use up to 50 nets and is transferable.
The introduction of the Fisheries Act 1995 means that eel fishermen now have to hold an Eel Fishery Access Licence
Restrictions on eel fishing activities include the size of mesh used in a fyke net, maximum length of wing ends. There is a 30cm size limit for eels. No person other than a person operating under a commercial eel access licence can legally use or have a fyke net.
In 1993 the freshwaters of Victoria were divided into five different types, scheduled waters, allocated waters, private waters, closed waters and culture lakes. Scheduled waters are open to all eel fishers for collecting eels. A list details all of the scheduled waters in Victoria. Only the licence holder nominated can fish in allocated waters. Each licence holder has a maximum of three waters; some may be shared with other fishermen. Private waters are located on private land and are open to eel fishing provided the landholder gives permission. Closed waters are closed to all eel fishing activities. Culture Lakes require a specific culture permit. Wildlife reserves can be fished where a specific permit is issued.
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In addition to the 18 licensed fishermen with current endorsements to harvest eels, the eel fishery provides employment for a further 30 people in processing and as crew members.
The value of the eel catch to the industry is approximately AU$3 million annually.
The Victorian catch is approximately 80 percent of the total annual catch of eels in Australia. Australia's contribution to the world market is less than 1 per cent of the world catch. However, it is likely that any increases in Australian production could be absorbed by the world market owing to the valid perception that Australian waters (and eels) are relatively unpolluted and what appears to be a high demand for the product.
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Short-finned eels are mainly exported to Europe as a snap-frozen product with about 5 percent being smoked for local consumption.
The market for long-finned eels is restricted mainly to large live eels (above 3 kg) that are exported to Taiwan and Hong Kong for consumption in China.
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During 1993 industry set up an arrangement to give each fisher exclusive access to a maximum of three waters based on their fishing history. Up until then the informal agreements between fishers and the waters they fished in were breaking down. Fishers were reluctant to release small eels when they might be harvested be someone else. On reaching the agreement many compromises and sacrifices were made by the fishers. The agreement shows a commitment from industry to ensure the sustainability of the Victorian eel fishery.
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The growing interest in harvesting glass eels for intensive culture will require a set of guidelines and possible restrictions.
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