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| The maximum size of a Black Bream is 60 cm and they
weight up to 4 kg. Female Black Bream grow to a larger size and may
live for up to 17 years. |
Black Bream are found in river and creek estuaries from
central New South Wales to the Murchison River in Western Australia,
but they are not found in the Great Australian Bight. In the Basin they
are found in the lower Murray and the Coorong estuary. They are sometimes
found in freshwater areas
of rivers.
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IN THE PAST
Black Bream were in high numbers. |
TODAY
Black Bream are in high numbers for the moment. |
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| COORONG ESTUARY |
Black Bream are found in coastal estuaries, in the Coorong,
and sometimes in the freshwater areas of the lower Murray River.
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| ROCKY REEFS |
SNAGS & ROCKS |
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| SANDY BOTTOMS |
| Black Bream are found in areas that have good cover of such
things as snags,
woody debris and
rocky reefs. They are also found over sandy and muddy bottoms. |
MATING
Adult Black Bream move in large numbers to estuaries to spawn.
Males become adults at about 5 years, slightly earlier than females. |
SPAWNING
Black bream spawn in channels near the Murray mouth, and usually
from November until March in the Coorong. |
EGGS
Female Black Bream release between 300,000 and 3 million eggs during
the spawning season. Eggs float in mid water, are spherical and 0.7-0.8
mm in diameter with a single oil drop. Eggs hatch about 2 days after fertilisation.
The best hatching results occur in 50% seawater. |
JUVENILES
Larvae and juvenile Black
Bream are in their largest numbers over seagrass beds in estuaries. Juveniles
grow to about 10 cm long in their first year, to 17 cm at 2 years old and
23 cm at 3 years old. |
| Black Bream eat both plants and meat. They feed on a range of aquatic
plants and animals including molluscs, crustaceans,
worms and small fish. |
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| Black Bream mainly stay within estuaries, but they can be flushed out
into the ocean during big floods. They have also been found in the freshwater
areas of rivers, but it is not clear if they migrate upstream. |
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IN THE PAST
Black Bream have been part of the commercial fishery
in the Coorong since the 1880s. They are also important in the Gippsland
Lakes fishery. |
TODAY
Black Bream are caught in the Coorong using gillnets and haul
nets. They are sold as whole fish. |
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IN THE PAST
Black Bream were probably a source of fresh food for Aborigines in
the Coorong region in South Australia. |
TODAY
Black Bream are a popular species for fishers, particularly in Victoria.
They are caught on baited hooks on rods or handlines. |
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LEGAL SIZES
Sometimes there are limits on the size of Black Bream that can be
caught.
| ACT: |
Not found |
| NSW: |
At least 25 cm in length |
| Qld.: |
Not found |
| SA: |
At least 28 cm in length |
| Vic.: |
At least 26 cm in length |
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CATCH LIMITS
Sometimes there are limits on the number of Black Bream that can
be caught.
| ACT: |
Not found |
| NSW: |
A limit of 20 fish |
| Qld.: |
Not found |
| SA: |
None |
| Vic.: |
A limit of 10 fish (not more than 2 longer than 36 cm) |
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CLOSED SEASONS
Sometimes Black Bream can only be caught at certain times of the
year.
| ACT: |
Not found |
| NSW: |
None |
| Qld.: |
Not found |
| SA: |
The season is closed in the Onkaparinga River between November
1 and January 31. |
| Vic.: |
None |
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BAIT
Baits used to catch Black Bream include prawns, bloodworms and sandworms,
crabs and whitebait. |
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| FISH HABITATS |
| Further loss of estuarine habitats could
affect the numbers and the distribution of
Black Bream. |
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| WATER FLOW |
| The reduction in the amount of fresh water entering the
Coorong could reduce the numbers of Black Bream. |
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| FISHING |
| Increased fishing by recreational fishers
could reduce the numbers of Black Bream. |
REMEDIES?
Black Bream are not bred artificially and are not stocked in water
bodies in the Basin. They are not currently considered as a fish that
is good for aquaculture. |
RECOVERY PLANS
There are no recovery plans
in place for Black Bream. Their numbers appear to be stable, but it is probably
being overfished.
Management controls on the commercial fishery include:
- Limits on the number of fishing
licences issued,
- Restrictions on the type of fishing gear
used,
- Closed seasons and closed areas in
some estuaries,
- Minimum legal size limits.
Management controls on the recreational fishers include:
- Minimum legal size limits,
- Daily bag limits,
- Regulations on the number of lines and
hooks used. |
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