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| Female Short-finned Eels grow to less than 100 cm in
length. Males grow to less than 54 cm. They may live more than 30
years. |
The Short-finned Eel is found in eastern-flowing rivers from southern
Queensland to South Australia. It is also found in the Murray River in
South Australia.
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IN THE PAST
Short-finned Eels were common. |
TODAY
Short-finned Eels are still common, but there may be less now
because of overfishing. |
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| PLAINS |
LAKES AND DAMS |
Short-finned Eels live in rivers, creeks, lakes and dams
in the lower plains area of the Murray-Darling Basin. They are also occasionally
found in the slopes and tableland areas
of Victoria.
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| SLOW MOVING WATERS |
BILLABONGS |
| Short-finned Eels use different kinds of habitats,
but they particularly like still or slow-moving water. |
MATING
Male Short-finned Eels migrate to spawn at 8-12 years of age and
females at 10-30 years of age. Flooding may cause spawning to begin.
Adult eels gather in lower parts of the river where it meets the sea
to mate,
with the males arriving first. |
SPAWNING
Short-finned Eels move from fresh water into river estuaries from
October - November. They then move out to sea from January - May. They
spawn somewhere in the Coral Sea at depths of more than 300 m, and probably
in groups. |
EGGS
Female Short-finned Eels may lay 5-10 million eggs at a time.
The eggs float in water. |
JUVENILES
Young eels hatch in 2-10 days as clear, flattened larvae.
They then grow into 'glass eels'. They return to the rivers and lakes
and grow into coloured, 'elvers'. Then they move further upstream and
change into young 'brown elvers'. |
| Short-finned eels feed at night and find their prey by smell. They eat
fish, crustaceans,
aquatic insects and molluscs.
Adult eels probably do not eat while migrating. |
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Short-finned Eels move all the way from their spawning grounds
deep in the Coral Sea to the upper reaches of freshwater creeks
and streams. Their journey of thousands of kilometres can take more
than 3 months.
Once they have found a new freshwater habitat they may stay in the same creek, river reach,
or lake for many years. Eels that have been caught, tagged and then released in various places
always find their way back to within 400 m of their 'home'. Young Short-finned Eels (called
glass eels) and eels that have almost reached adult stage (called brown elvers)
can climb the damp walls of weirs and dams, and adult eels can even travel overland over damp
surfaces for short distances. |
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IN THE PAST
Short-finned Eels have been trapped in Victoria since 1914. |
TODAY
There are not enough Short-finned Eels for them to be trapped in
large numbers. |
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IN THE PAST
Short-finned Eels were probably used for food by the Aborigines and
early European settlers. |
TODAY
Short-finned Eels are often caught by accident by fishers. However,
some people enjoy catching and eating them. |
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LEGAL SIZES
Sometimes there are limits on the size of Short-finned Eels that
can be caught.
| ACT: |
No limits |
| NSW: |
At least 30 cm in length |
| Qld.: |
At least 30 cm in length |
| SA: |
No limits |
| Vic.: |
At least 30 cm in length |
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CATCH LIMITS
Sometimes there are limits on the number of Eels that can be caught.
| ACT: |
No limits |
| NSW: |
A limit of 2 fish in rivers, 5 fish in dams |
| Qld.: |
No limits |
| SA: |
No limits |
| Vic.: |
No limits |
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CLOSED SEASONS
Short-finned Eels can be caught all year round in all States of
Australia. |
BAIT
Short-finned Eels are easily caught on a hook and line, using
garden snails, mullet or any small fish as bait. |
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| FISHING |
| The number of Short-finned Eels may have decreased due to overfishing.
The trapping of wild elvers for aquaculture needs
to be managed carefully. |
| Short-finned Eels are not bred artificially from eggs because they only
spawn at an unknown place deep in the Coral Sea. In Victoria, captured
wild elvers are placed in suitable habitats such as lakes and swamps.
When the eels are big enough they are caught in fyke
nets and sold. |
RECOVERY PLANS
There are no recovery plans
for Short-finned Eels. However, there are some management controls in
place:
- Permits are required to farm eels.
- Permits are required to collect elvers
and young eels.
- In most States, minimum legal size
and/or bag limits are in place for
recreational fishers. |
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