*

Longfin Eel is considered a single biological stock for eastern Australia, but is assessed at the jurisdictional level due to the absence of a cross-jurisdictional stock assessment. Longfin Eel is classified as sustainable in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania and undefined in Queensland.

The Longfin Eel has a wide species distribution that extends the entire eastern Australian coast from Cape York to Tasmania and is also found at Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island [Beumer and Sloane 1990], and in northern New Zealand [Jellyman et al. 1996]. The Australian stock structure was investigated via a microsatellite genetic study, and the results indicated a single panmictic biological stock along the east coast [Shen and Tzeng 2007]. However, there is currently no cross-jurisdictional stock assessment undertaken for the shared stock, so this assessment of stock status is presented at the jurisdictional level—New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania and Victoria

Queensland

The Southern Shortfin Eel (Anguilla australis), Pacific Shortfin Eel (A. obscura) and the Longfin Eel (A. reinhardtii) all occur in Queensland rivers flowing east of the Great Dividing Range. South-eastern Queensland is considered the northern extent of the distribution of the Southern Shortfin Eel, while the Pacific Shortfin Eel is restricted to North Queensland and the Longfin Eel is common throughout eastern drainages of Queensland. The Longfin Eel is the main target of the Queensland commercial eel fishery. The Southern Shortfin Eel is also targeted though to a negligible extent.

Freshwater eels are not key recreational targets. Creel surveys to determine recreational angler participation and catch within Queensland were undertaken in 2000, 2010, 2014 and 2019 [Henry and Lyle 2003; Webley et al. 2015; Teixeira et al. 2021]. Estimates from these surveys for catch, harvest, and numbers of eels released suggest a progressive decline in both catch and angler effort. A downward trend in the percentage of harvested eels has been observed with a decrease from 44% in 2000 [Henry and Lyle 2003] to 7.5% in 2010, and with insignificant numbers reported in 2014 [Webley et al. 2015]. Too few eels were reported in the 2019 survey to provide estimates with any confidence [Teixeira et al. 2021]. This shift is likely attributed to a change in the attitude of recreational anglers.

The commercial Queensland Eel Fishery (QEF) consists of two separate fisheries, adults and juveniles. The adult eel fishery has been managed as a closed fishery (closed to new applicants) since 1999. Current licences are non-transferable, they cannot be bought, sold or leased. This is a major input control on the fishery, as well as the restrictions on trapping areas, limited number of traps allowed for use in each area, and a minimum size limit. The juvenile eel fishery targets glass eels and elvers. These may be sold to authorised aquaculture enterprises in Australia for on-growing only. The export of juvenile eels is not permitted. There are presently eight adult eel and 12 juvenile eel licences in Queensland.

The commercial harvest of eels has fluctuated widely with effort peaking at 50 t in 2002, decreasing to 0.3 t in 2023 with only two active licences fishing five days. The catch per unit effort (CPUE) has remained relatively stable since 2007 at an average of 0.03 t per day, though prior to 2007 the average catch rate was 0.16 t per day. The last three years have seen an increase in CPUE to 0.55 t per day.

The glass eel fishery was established in 2006 and developed rapidly with a total harvest of 582 kg in 2007, this was followed by a similarly rapid decline resulting in no harvest from 2015–16 to 2017–18 and from 2021–22 to 2022–23. Total catch has remained under 0.02 t since 2013–14.

The above evidence indicates that the current level of fishing pressure is unlikely to cause the stock to become recruitment overfished. Based on this information, there is insufficient evidence to confidently classify this stock.  

On the basis of the evidence provided above, Longfin Eel in Queensland is classified as an undefined stock.

[Walsh et al. 2003, 2004]

Distribution of catches of Longfin Eel.

New South Wales – Commercial (Catch). Data are provided in financial years.

New South Wales – Recreational (Catch). Estimate from Murphy et al. [2020, 2022], based on a survey of Recreational Fishing Licence households. Note, estimates for eels are highly uncertain, with a relative standard error of greater than 30% and based on survey data from fewer than 20 households.

New South Wales – Indigenous (Management Methods). https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/aboriginal-fishing)

Queensland – Indigenous (Management Methods). For more information see: https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/business-priorities/fisheries/traditional-fishing

Queensland – Commercial (Catch). Queensland commercial and charter data have been sourced from the commercial fisheries logbook program. Further information available through the Queensland Fisheries Summary Report https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/business-priorities/fisheries/monitoring-research/data/queensland-fisheries-summary-report

Victoria – Indigenous (Management Methods). A person who identifies as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander is exempt from the need to obtain a Victorian recreational fishing licence, provided they comply with all other rules that apply to recreational fishers, including rules on equipment, catch limits, size limits and restricted areas. Traditional (non-commercial) fishing activities that are carried out by members of a traditional owner group entity under an agreement pursuant to Victoria’s Traditional Owner Settlement Act 2010 are also exempt from the need to hold a recreational fishing licence, subject to any conditions outlined in the agreement. Native title holders are also exempt from the need to obtain a recreational fishing licence under the provisions of the Commonwealth’s Native Title Act 1993.

Tasmania - Recreational (Management Methods). In Tasmania, an angling licence is required to take eels. There is a 12 fish daily bag limit for eels with a minimum size of 300 mm and a possession limit of 24 eels at any one time [IFS 2018].
Tasmania - Indigenous (Management Methods). In Tasmania, Indigenous persons engaged in traditional fishing activities in marine waters are exempt from holding recreational fishing licences, but must comply with all other fisheries rules as if they were licensed. For details, see the policy document 'Recognition of Aboriginal Fishing Activities” (https://fishing.tas.gov.au/Documents/Policy%20for%20Aboriginal%20tags%20and%20alloting%20an%20UIC.pdf).

Commercial catches of Longfin Eel.

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2. Australian Survey Research Group Pty Ltd, September 2018, Victorian Fisheries Authority Recreational Fishing Survey 2018
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15. Purser, J, Cooper, P, Diggle, J and Ibbott, T 2014, Tasmanian Eel Industry Development and Management Plan, FRDC Project No 2012/208
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24. Webley, J, McInnes, K, Teixeira, D, Lawson, A and Quinn, R 2015, Statewide recreational fishing survey 2013–14. Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Brisbane, Queensland